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Hertfordshire Waste Local Plan Employment Land
Areas of Search Supplementary Planning
Document Adopted Version (2015)
Strategic Environmental Assessment Report
Final Report
Prepared by LUC
September 2015
Project Title: SEA of the Hertfordshire Waste Local Plan Employment Land Areas of Search SPD
Client: Hertfordshire County Council
Version Date Version Details Prepared by Checked by Approved by
V1 15/12/14 Draft SEA Report to
accompany the Draft
ELAS SPD (May 2015)
(draft for client
comment)
Ben Miller Kate Nicholls,
Taran
Livingston
Jeremy Owen
V2 28/01/15 Final Draft SEA Report
to accompany the Draft
ELAS SPD (May 2015)
Ben Miller Taran
Livingston
Taran
Livingston
V2_1 04/09/15 Final SEA Report to
accompany the ELAS
SPD Adopted Version
(November 2015)
Ben Miller Taran
Livingston
Taran
Livingston
V3 04/09/15 Final SEA Report to
accompany the ELAS
SPD Adopted Version
(November 2015)
Ben Miller Taran
Livingston
Taran
Livingston
J:\CURRENT PROJECTS\4600s\4643 Hertfordshire WDF\B Project Working\ELAS SPD\SEA Report\4643
10_Final_SEA_Report_20150925_V3.docx
Hertfordshire Waste Local Plan Employment Land
Areas of Search Supplementary Planning
Document Adopted Version (2015)
Strategic Environmental Assessment Report
Final Report
Prepared by LUC
September 2015
Planning & EIA Design Landscape Planning Landscape Management Ecology Mapping & Visualisation
LUC BRISTOL 12th Floor Colston Tower Colston Street Bristol BS1 4XE T +44 (0)117 929 1997 bristol@landuse.co.uk
Offices also in: London Glasgow Edinburgh
Land Use Consultants Ltd Registered in England Registered number: 2549296 Registered Office: 43 Chalton Street London NW1 1JD
LUC uses 100% recycled paper
Contents
1 Introduction 3 The Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 3 Strategic Environmental Assessment 3 Compliance with the SEA Regulations 6 Structure of the SEA Report 7
2 Methodology 9 SEA Stages and Work Undertaken 9 Difficulties encountered and data limitations 14
3 Policy Context and Baseline Information 15 Review of Plans, Polices and Programmes 15 Baseline Information 16 Key Environmental and Sustainability Issues 19
4 SEA Framework 21 Use of the SEA Framework 23
5 SEA Findings 25 SEA Headline Objective 1 - To protect, conserve and enhance the quality of the natural and
historic environment, heritage assets and their settings 29 SEA Headline Objective 2 - To achieve and promote sustainable land use, construction, design
and transport in Hertfordshire 31 SEA Headline Objective 3 - To reduce contributions to climate change 32 SEA Headline Objective 4 - To provide for sustainable resource management 33 SEA Headline Objective 5 - To maximise the potential economic benefits of waste management to
a sustainable economy in Hertfordshire 34 SEA Headline Objective 6 - To contribute to the improved health and amenity of local
communities in Hertfordshire 35 SEA Headline Objective 7 - To maximise community participation and access to services and
facilities in Hertfordshire 36 Cumulative Effects 36
6 Monitoring 37
7 Conclusions 40
Appendix 1 41 Scoping Consultation Comments 41
Appendix 2 50 SEA Framework and Assumptions 50
Appendix 3 71 Review of Policies, Plans, Programmes 71
Appendix 4 91 SEA Matrices for the ELAS 91
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 3 September 2015
1 Introduction
1.1 Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) commissioned LUC in June 2014 to screen the Hertfordshire
Waste Local Plan (WLP) Employment Land Areas of Search (ELAS) Supplementary Planning
Document (SPD) for the Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document for the requirement
for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and then to undertake the assessment if it was
concluded that SEA is indeed required.
1.2 LUC undertook a screening exercise based on the guidance contained in the Government’s 2005
SEA guidance1 and concluded that the ELAS SPD is subject to the SEA Directive requirements as it
meets the criteria set out in Articles 2(a), 3.2(a), 3.3 and 3.5. It is considered to have potential
for likely significant environmental effects because it allocates specific areas of search for
development, and the ELAS are situated within sensitive areas (e.g. ground water source
protection zones 1 and 2) and within close proximity/adjacent to sensitive areas (e.g. heritage
and wildlife designations).
1.3 The SEA process is concerned with assessing the potential environmental effects that may arise
from the implementation of the ELAS SPD. This report (‘the Environmental Report’) presents the
findings of the SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015) and it
should be read in conjunction with that document.
The Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD
1.4 HCC has produced the ELAS SPD for the 60 ELAS that are identified in the adopted Hertfordshire
Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD)2. The purpose of the ELAS SPD is to
provide further planning guidance about the suitability of waste-related development within the
identified ELAS and should be used by applicants wishing to develop waste management facilities
in those locations. The SPD elaborates on the general ELAS waste brief presented in the Waste
Site Allocations DPD by listing further site specific key planning issues for each ELAS that should
be taken into account at the planning application stage. The SPD should therefore be read in
conjunction with the general ELAS waste brief and the Waste Site Allocations DPD as a whole.
1.5 The ELAS SPD does not introduce any further policies, as all policies are included in the adopted
Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document and the
Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document. The ELAS SPD will be treated as a material
planning consideration in the determination of waste-related planning applications. Other policies
that form part of the Development Plan may also be applicable (e.g. individual district/borough
Local Plans and the National Planning Policy Framework). HCC believes that these are sufficient
for the determination of waste-related planning applications within all ELAS.
Strategic Environmental Assessment
1.6 SEA is a statutory assessment process, required under the Environmental Assessment of Plans
and Programmes Regulations (the SEA Regulations, Statutory Instrument 2004, No 1633) which
provide the legislative mechanism for transposing into UK law the European Directive 2001/42/EC
‘on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment’ (the SEA
Directive). The SEA Directive and Regulations require formal strategic environmental assessment
of plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects (either positive or negative)
on the environment.
1 A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, September 2005. 2 http://www.hertsdirect.org/docs/pdf/w/wasteallofinal.pdf
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 4 September 2015
1.7 SEA has been undertaken iteratively as the SPD progressed and involved evaluating the likely
significant environmental effects of implementing the SPD. The aim was that environmental
considerations could be integrated into the production of the SPD in order to improve its overall
sustainability performance. The SEA recommendations identified in the Final Draft SEA Report
(January 2015) (presented in Chapter 5) were incorporated into the Draft ELAS SPD (May 2015)
and remain in the Adopted Version of the ELAS SPD (November 2015), thereby improving the
overall sustainability performance of the ELAS SPD.
1.8 As described above, the screening decision regarding the need for the ELAS SPD to be subject to
SEA was based on the guidance set out in the government’s 2005 SEA Guide. Specifically, the
flow diagram in Figure 2 of the SEA Guide was used, as it seeks to assist decision makers in
determining whether the SEA Directive requires SEA of the plan in question (see Box 1 overleaf,
which replicates the flow diagram and provides the findings of the screening decision for the
Hertfordshire Waste ELAS SPD).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 5 September 2015
Box 1: SEA Screening Exercise for the Hertfordshire ELAS SPD
Yes (it is subject to adoption by a local authority)
Yes (The SEA Guide notes that characteristics of “administrative provisions” are likely to be that they
are publicly available, prepared in a formal way, probably involving consultation with interested parties.)
Yes (The ELAS SPD is prepared for waste management, town and country planning and land use, and
sets a framework for future consent of projects that may be in Annexes I and II of the EIA Directive.)
Yes (The ELAS SPD will determine the use of small areas at the local level)
Yes (The ELAS are within close proximity of a number of sensitive environmental designations, and
development within these areas could have significant environmental effects).
No – Directive requires SEA
Is the ELAS SPD subject to preparation and/or adoption by a national, regional or local
authority OR prepared by an authority for adoption through a legislative procedure by
Parliament or Government? (Art. 2(a))
Is the ELAS SPD required by legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions? (Art. 2(a))
Is the ELAS SPD prepared for agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, industry, transport, waste
management, water management, telecommunications, tourism, town and country planning
or land use, AND does it set a framework for future development consent of projects in Annexes I
and II to the EIA Directive? (Art. 3.2(a))
Does the ELAS SPD determine the use of small areas at local level, OR is it a minor
modification of a PP subject to Art. 3.2 (Art. 3.3)?
Is it likely to have a significant effect on the environment? (Art. 3.5)*
Is the ELAS SPD’s sole purpose to serve national defence or civil emergency, OR is it a financial or
budget PP, OR is it co-financed by structural funds or EAGGF programmes 2000 to 2006/7? (Art.
3.8, 3.9)
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 6 September 2015
Compliance with the SEA Regulations
1.9 This report has been prepared in accordance with the SEA Regulations. The reporting
requirements in Annex 1 of the SEA Directive (and Schedule 2 of the SEA Regulations) are set out
in Table 1.1 below, which also indicates where in this SEA Report the relevant requirement has
been met.
Table 1.1 Requirements of the SEA Directive and where these have been addressed in this SEA Report
SEA Directive Requirements Where Covered in this SEA
Report
Preparation of an environmental report in which the likely significant effects on the
environment of implementing the plan or programme, and reasonable alternatives taking into
account the objectives and geographical scope of the plan or programme, are identified,
described and evaluated. The information to be given is (Art. 5 and Annex I):
An outline of the contents, main objectives of the plan or
programme, and relationship with other relevant plans and
programmes;
Chapter 3 and Appendix 3
The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment
and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the
plan or programme;
Chapter 3
The environmental characteristics of areas likely to be
significantly affected;
Chapter 3
Any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the
plan or programme including, in particular, those relating to
any areas of a particular environmental importance, such as
areas designated pursuant to Directives 79/409/EEC and
92/43/EEC.;
Chapter 3
The environmental protection, objectives, established at
international, Community or national level, which are relevant
to the plan or programme and the way those objectives and
any environmental, considerations have been taken into
account during its preparation;
Chapter 3 and Appendix 3
The likely significant effects on the environment, including on
issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna,
flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural
heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage,
landscape and the interrelationship between the above factors.
(Footnote: These effects should include secondary,
cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term
permanent and temporary, positive and negative effects);
Chapter 5 and Appendix 4
The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as
possible offset any significant adverse effects on the
environment of implementing the plan or programme;
Chapter 5
An outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt
with, and a description of how the assessment was undertaken
including any difficulties (such as technical deficiencies or lack
of know-how) encountered in compiling the required
information;
Chapter 2
A description of measures envisaged concerning monitoring in
accordance with Art. 10;
Chapter 6
A non-technical summary of the information provided under
the above headings
A non-technical summary has
been produced to accompany
this final version of SEA
report for the ELAS SPD
Adopted Version (November
2015).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 7 September 2015
SEA Directive Requirements Where Covered in this SEA
Report
Consultation:
Authorities with environmental responsibility, when deciding
on the scope and level of detail of the information which must
be included in the environmental report (Art. 5.4)
The SEA Scoping letter was
subject to consultation with
the statutory consultees
between September and
October 2014. Appendix 1
details the responses received
and how they have been
addressed.
Authorities with environmental responsibility and the public,
shall be given an early and effective opportunity within
appropriate time frames to express their opinion on the draft
plan or programme and the accompanying environmental
report before the adoption of the plan or programme (Art. 6.1,
6.2)
HCC invited comments on the
Draft ELAS SPD (May 2015)
and the Final Draft SEA
Report (January 2015) in May
to July 2015. No comments
were received on the Final
Draft SEA Report.
Other EU Member States, where the implementation of the
plan or programme is likely to have significant effects on the
environment of that country (Art. 7).
Not applicable.
Taking the environmental report and the results of the consultations into account in
decision-making (Art. 8)
Provision of information on the decision:
When the plan or programme is adopted, the public and any countries consulted under Art.7 must be informed and the following made available to those so informed:
the plan or programme as adopted
a statement summarising how environmental
considerations have been integrated into the plan or programme and how the environmental report of Article 5,
the opinions expressed pursuant to Article 6 and the results of consultations entered into pursuant to Art. 7
have been taken into account in accordance with Art. 8, and the reasons for choosing the plan or programme as adopted, in the light of the other reasonable alternatives dealt with; and
the measures decided concerning monitoring (Art. 9)
To be addressed in the SEA
adoption statement.
Monitoring of the significant environmental effects of the
plan's or programme's implementation (Art. 10)
Chapter 6
Quality assurance: environmental reports should be of a
sufficient standard to meet the requirements of the SEA
Directive (Art. 12).
Details of how this SEA report
meets the requirements of
the SEA Directive are set out
above.
Structure of the SEA Report
1.10 This chapter (Chapter 1) has described the background to the production of the Hertfordshire
ELAS SPD and the requirement to undertake SEA. The remainder of this report is structured into
the following sections:
Chapter 2 describes the approach taken to the SEA of the ELAS SPD and outlines the tasks
involved.
Chapter 3 presents the review of plans policies and programmes, baseline information and
key sustainability issues for Hertfordshire, including the likely evolution of the baseline
without the Plan.
Chapter 4 presents the SEA framework used for the SEA of the ELAS SPD.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 8 September 2015
Chapter 5 summarises the findings of the SEA of the ELAS SPD Adopted Version.
Chapter 6 details the approach that will be taken to monitoring the effects of the ELAS SPD.
Chapter 7 summarises the conclusions of the SEA.
1.11 In addition to the above, Appendix 1 lists the consultation comments received in relation to the
SEA Scoping letter and describes how each one has been addressed. Appendix 2 presents the
SEA framework and assumptions used in the SEA of the ELAS. Appendix 3 presents the review
of other plans, policies and programmes that are relevant to the ELAS SPD and the SEA.
Appendix 4 presents the SEA matrices for the ELAS.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 9 September 2015
2 Methodology
2.1 The approach taken to the SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD is based on current best
practice and the following guidance:
A Practical Guide to the SEA Directive, (September 2005) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister,
Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government, Department of the Environment for
Northern Ireland.
SEA Stages and Work Undertaken
2.2 Table 2.1 below sets out the main stages of SEA. Each stage is then discussed in more detail in
the subsequent sections.
Table 2.1 Stages in the SEA Process
SEA Stages
SEA Stage A: setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding
on the Scope
A1: Identifying other relevant plans, programmes and sustainability objectives
A2: Collecting baseline information
A3: Identifying sustainability issues and problems
A4: Developing the SEA Framework
A5: Consulting on the Scope of the SEA
SEA Stage B: Develop options, taking account of assessed effects
B1: Testing the project objectives against the SEA Framework
B2: Developing the options
B3: Predicting the effects of the ELAS SPD
B4: Evaluating the effects of the ELAS SPD
B5: Considering ways of mitigating adverse effects and maximising beneficial effects
B6: Proposing measures to monitor the significant effects of implementing the ELAS SPD
SEA Stage C: Preparing the SEA Report
C1: Preparing the SEA Report
SEA Stage D: Consulting on the Plan and the SEA Report
D1: Public participation on the draft plan and SEA report
D2: Assessing significant changes
SEA Stage E: Monitoring the significant effects of implementing the ELAS SPD
E1: Finalising aims and methods for monitoring
E2: Responding to adverse effects
Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on
the scope
2.3 An SEA Scoping letter was prepared and consulted upon with the three statutory consultees
(Natural England, the Environment Agency and English Heritage) between September and
October 2014.
2.4 The SEA Scoping exercise involved the following main tasks:
Identification and review of other relevant policies, plans and programmes, strategies and
initiatives which may influence the ELAS SPD and the SEA.
Characterisation of the plan area (i.e. describing its economic, social and environmental
character).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 10 September 2015
Development of a framework of SEA objectives against which the ELAS SPD and any
reasonable alternatives would be appraised.
Identification of the key environmental and sustainability issues of relevance to the ELAS SPD.
2.5 A list of the comments received from the consultees, along with a description of how each one has
been addressed, is provided in Appendix 1. Each of the comments received was reviewed and
certain elements of the Scoping work were updated as necessary and included in this SEA Report.
The revised and updated baseline information and review of plans, policies and programmes are
presented in Chapter 3, and the amended SEA framework and assumptions are presented in
Chapter 4 and Appendix 2.
Stage B: Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects
2.6 A summary of how reasonable alternatives to the ELAS were identified in the Waste Site
Allocations DPD (and which are now the subject of the ELAS SPD) was set out in Chapter 3 of the
Final SA/SEA Report for the Hertfordshire Waste Site Allocations DPD3. This information is
repeated below for completeness in order to meet the requirements of the SEA Directive as shown
in Table 1.1 (in particular that the Environmental Report must include “An outline of the reasons
for selecting the alternatives dealt with”).
Issues and Options (2003-2004)
2.7 Options considered and appraised through the SA of the Waste Core Strategy and Site Allocations
DPD that were relevant to the subsequent selection of sites for allocation and ELAS were: the
number of facilities to plan for (i.e. small number of large facilities, large number of small
facilities or a mixture); the approach to identifying sites for waste management (i.e.
identifying Areas of Search or not, safeguarding sites, and/or using criteria based policies); how
to assess suitability of sites (i.e. using current Waste Local Plan criteria or revising); whether
to give priority to Green Belt policy over need/proximity principle; whether to give priority to
waste facilities for use of brownfield land over housing/other employment uses; and whether to
increase or decrease restrictions on development of waste facilities in locally designated areas.
2.8 No specific recommendations were made regarding which preferred options to select, as the SA
team noted it was difficult to make judgements as to a preferred option for each issue,
particularly when there are equal numbers of advantages and disadvantages associated, without
having a sense of importance or weighting against which to judge the relative merits of
advantages, or severity of disadvantages between options. However, the sustainability strengths
and weaknesses of the options were taken into account by HCC when deciding on the Preferred
Options for the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD and the site
selection process for the Waste Site Allocations DPD.
Preferred Options 1 (2005-2008)
2.9 HCC compiled a long list of around 650 sites, which included all sites in Hertfordshire that could
potentially be suitable for waste development, as the sites represented the types of opportunity
areas identified in Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste
Management, as existed at the time (i.e. previously developed land, industrial sites, opportunities
for co-location at existing minerals or waste sites). In line with the sequential test in PPS 25:
Development and Flood Risk, they then excluded all the sites which were located in Flood Zones 2
and 3. The remaining sites were all within Flood Zone 1. HCC then removed all the sites which
were below 0.5 hectares in size.
2.10 The remaining sites greater than 0.5 hectares and not within Flood Zones 2 or 3 were then
subject to HCC officer scrutiny to determine their suitability based on potential deliverability and
practicality. Sites which were known to be not suitable were removed. Reasons for sites being
not suitable (and not a ‘reasonable alternative’) included:
Employment Land which was Use Class B1 (Business).
Historic landfill which has been restored for more than 10 years.
3 Hertfordshire Waste Site Allocations DPD Adopted Version 2014 Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment Final
SA/SEA Report. LUC, July 2014.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 11 September 2015
Restored mineral or landfill sites which now have recreational uses such as Golf Courses.
Restored mineral sites which are actually earth bunds (long thin strips of land alongside
highways, used during construction of the highway).
Practical reasons (such as unavailability of land, due to ownership for example).
2.11 The remaining sites were subject to 20 sustainability ‘tests’ (the first test was to ensure no sites
were in Flood Zone 2 or 3, and the remaining 19 tests assessed each site on a scale of 1-5
against factors such as proximity to protected features of the natural and built environment, and
distances from existing infrastructure, such as primary routes and rail links. Those sites which
scored well were chosen as the 48 ‘preferred option’ sites to be taken forward in the preferred
options version DPD (January 2008).
2.12 As the SEA Directive requires consideration of ‘reasonable alternatives’, 14 additional sites were
also appraised as part of the SA. These 14 ‘reasonable alternatives’ came from the list of sites
greater than 0.5 hectares and not within Flood Zones 2 or 3, which HCC had considered ‘not
suitable’. Due to insufficient justification provided as to why these sites might be not suitable,
LUC considered that they also needed to be subject to SA as reasonable alternatives alongside the
preferred options.
Issues and Preferred Options 2 (2008-2009)
2.13 For the Issues and Preferred Options 2 DPD, the site selection methodology was refined to
incorporate stakeholder views and SA findings. The methodology considered opportunities for on-
site management of waste where it arises, and looked at a broad range of locations, including
industrial sites. From this process, HCC identified 25 preferred sites or ‘Preferred Waste Areas’,
which were considered to have the most potential to provide a network of waste sites across the
County during the lifetime of the plan period.
2.14 The Preferred Waste Areas which were located within existing employment areas were referred to
as Preferred Employment Land Areas (PELA). The Preferred Waste Areas therefore consisted of:
16 Preferred Waste Areas
9 Preferred Employment Land Areas (PELA).
2.15 The 25 Preferred Waste Areas were chosen from the list of 48 preferred options identified in the
January 2008 Preferred Options Site Allocations DPD. They actually constituted 24 of the original
sites from the 48 preferred options, as one of the sites was divided into 2 separate sites, making
25. Some slight amendments were also made to the site boundaries for some of the sites. This
reflected changes at those sites since the last stage (e.g. parts of some sites have now been fully
restored, some parts have been designated as employment land, some sites split etc.). These
changes were taken into consideration during the SA.
2.16 HCC’s reasons for discounting the other 24 sites resulted from more detailed assessments of the
sites, some site visits, and development which had occurred since the last draft of the DPD (i.e.
some sites had been developed, fully restored, or gained planning approval for development).
2.17 No reasonable alternatives to the preferred options were considered by the SA team at the
Preferred Options 2 stage, due to the process used to refine down the number of sites at each
stage of the process, with SA forming part of this process. HCC considered a very large number
of alternatives throughout the process of reaching the 25 Preferred Waste Areas, with the final 25
Preferred Waste Areas being selected from the earlier 48 Preferred Options sites.
2.18 In addition to the 25 ‘Preferred Waste Areas’, the DPD identified:
68 Employment Land Areas of Search (ELAS)
14 Sites for re-restoration and
143 Safeguarded Sites.
Pre-submission (January 2012)
2.19 Through consultation on the Issues and Preferred Options 2 Site Allocations DPD in 2009, a
number of potential sites for waste management were identified which had either not been
considered at a previous stage in the development of the Site Allocations DPD, or which had been
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 12 September 2015
previously assessed and subsequently discounted but then re-promoted through the consultation
on the Issues and Preferred Options 2 version of the DPD. These sites were called Omission
Sites. HCC undertook an additional consultation on these ‘Omission Sites’ between November and
December 2010.
2.20 A total of 16 additional sites were proposed to HCC through the consultation on the Issues and
Preferred Options 2 DPD. Of these 16, eleven were ‘new’ sites, four proposed an extension to the
boundary of an existing site, and one (Smug Oak Lane, St., Albans) was re-promoted following its
rejection after the Preferred Options 1 consultation in January 2008. The ’20 tests’ in HCC’s site
selection methodology were applied to the sites at this stage to determine their suitability for the
development of waste management facilities. This process informed the choice of sites to include
in the consultation document. Of the 16 additional sites proposed, nine sites were included in the
Omission Sites Consultation Document. The other seven were discounted for the following
reasons:
Five were not included because they were located within Flood Zones 2 or 3.
The remaining two were not included because they related to extensions that were being
sought to the boundaries of two existing sites which were identified as a Preferred Waste
Areas in the Issues and Preferred Options 2 Site Allocations DPD and were therefore not ‘new’
sites.
2.21 Of the nine sites included in the Omission Sites consultation document, four of the sites were
discounted for the following reasons:
One of the sites had been put forward as potentially suitable for the relocation of a specific
household waste recycling centre, but consultation determined that it would not be suitable
for this use.
One of the sites was not suitable because it was on greenfield land, was some distance from
the primary road network, and the access to the site was along an existing public right of way.
The other two sites were not considered suitable to be Allocated Sites because they were
greenfield sites in the Green Belt.
2.22 The remaining five were taken through and included in the Pre-Submission Version of the Site
Allocations DPD as Allocated Sites, which included:
16 Allocated Sites.
61 ELAS.
2.23 The 16 Allocated Sites consisted of the five sites which were brought forward from the Omission
Sites Consultation, and 11 sites which were included as Preferred Waste Areas in the Issues and
Preferred Options 2 version of the DPD.
2.24 25 Preferred Waste Areas were included in the Issues and Preferred Options 2 DPD. Following
consultation on the DPD, seven of the Preferred Waste Areas were discounted. HCC’s reasons for
discounting the seven sites resulted from findings from the SA and further information gathered
on the sites through consultation, including up to date information on the dates of expiry of
planning permission on the sites, identified access issues, and other issues which meant the sites
would not be viable for waste management uses. Eight of the Preferred Waste Areas which had
been identified as Preferred Employment Land Areas (PELA) in the Issues and Preferred Options 2
DPD were shown in the Pre-Submission DPD as Employment Land Areas of Search instead.
2.25 Of the 68 Employment Land Areas of Search shown in the Issues and Preferred Options 2 DPD, 15
were not included in the Pre Submission Version of the DPD. HCC’s reasons for discounting these
sites resulted from further information gathered since 2009, including the identification of
alternative uses for the sites, and inclusion of some of the sites in Local Development Framework
DPDs (for example as part of Area Action Plans or other re-development areas). The boundaries
of 12 of the ELAS were amended to exclude certain uses which would be incompatible with waste
uses (such as residential areas, B1 (business uses), key gateway developments).
2.26 The Site Allocations DPD no longer included sites which are suitable for restoration.
2.27 No reasonable alternatives to the Allocated Sites were identified by the SA team at the Pre
Submission Stage due to the process used to refine down the number of sites at each stage of the
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 13 September 2015
process, with SA forming part of this process. HCC considered a very large number of
alternatives throughout the process of reaching the 25 Preferred Waste Areas, and the 16
Allocated Sites were selected from the earlier 25 Preferred Waste Area sites, with the exception of
those which emerged from the Omission Sites Consultation, some of which had emerged at earlier
stages in the process.
Proposed Submission (November 2012) and Submission (June 2013)
2.28 The changes that were made to the Site Allocations document between the Pre Submission and
Proposed Submission version were as follows:
Policy 1a (Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development) was added from the Waste
Core Strategy & Development Management document.
Three new policies (WSA2-4) were added to explain the sequential approach the Council will
take to proposals that come forward on Allocated Sites (WSA2), Employment Land Areas of
Search (WSA3) and sites outside of these locations identified in the Site Allocations document
(WSA4).
Two of the allocated site boundaries increased (AS025 Cumberlow Green Farm Composting
Site, and AS041 Waterdale).
Some of the text in the site briefs for each allocated site was amended to provide further
background information about the allocated sites (for example naming Local Nature Reserves
that were identified previously but were not named).
2.29 No reasonable alternatives to the above changes were identified by the SA team.
Adopted Waste Site Allocations DPD (2014)
2.30 The changes that were proposed following the public hearing sessions that formed part of the
examination into the ‘soundness’ of the plan were set out in two schedules: Proposed Main
Modifications and Proposed Additional Modifications, and as a ‘tracked change’ version of the
document (all dated December 2013).
2.31 The Additional Modifications comprised factual updates, points of clarification and other minor
changes which individually, or in combination, were not deemed to materially affect the
soundness of the Waste Site Allocations document, whereas the Main Modifications included the
remaining changes that were considered necessary to ensure the soundness of the Waste Site
Allocations document.
2.32 The key changes proposed through the Main and Additional Modifications that affected the
conclusions in the 2012 SA Report and Addendum were:
Deletion of eight of the 16 Allocated Sites.
Deletion of the Sequential Approach in Policies WSA2-4, and replacement with a revised policy
WSA2 covering waste development proposals on any site: Allocated, Employment Land Area
of Search (ELAS) or non-allocated.
Improved clarity in the supporting text of Chapter 4 regarding the Allocated Sites in the Green
Belt.
Additional assessment requirements in the waste site briefs for Allocated Sites and the general
ELAS site brief.
2.33 No reasonable alternatives to the above changes were identified by the SA team.
Hertfordshire WLP Draft ELAS SPD (May 2015)
2.34 The Hertfordshire ELAS SPD does not present or consider any further reasonable alternatives, as
the purpose of the ELAS SPD is to provide further planning guidance into the suitability of waste
related development on the identified ELAS and should be used by applicants wishing to develop
waste management facilities in those locations. As detailed in Chapter 1, the ELAS SPD
elaborates on the general ELAS waste brief presented in the Waste Site Allocations DPD, by listing
further site specific key planning issues for each ELAS that should be taken into account at the
planning application stage. The SPD should therefore be read in conjunction with the general
ELAS waste brief and the Waste Site Allocations DPD as a whole.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 14 September 2015
2.35 The Final Draft SEA Report (issued to HCC in January 2015) identified recommendations, which
are outlined in Chapter 5 of this report, to be included in the Draft ELAS SPD to improve its
overall sustainability performance. These recommendations were subsequently incorporated by
HCC into the Draft ELAS SPD (May 2015).
Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015)
2.36 Following consultation undertaken from May to July 2015 on the Draft ELAS SPD (May 2015) and
the Final Draft SEA Report (January 2015); HCC has completed minor amendments to the ELAS
SPD, taking account of representations to the consultation, and primarily including additional
supporting information in the Waste Briefs for the ELAS. This SEA Report has taken account of
these final amendments, which has resulted in no changes to the SEA findings originally
presented in the Final Draft SEA Report (January 2015), other than further clarification relating to
the way the recommendations had been addressed in the SPD.
2.37 Furthermore, the suggested recommendations included in the Final Draft SEA Report (January
2015) are shown in Chapter 5 of this Final SEA Report, and are still incorporated in the ELAS SPD
Adopted Version.
Stage C: Preparing the SEA Report
2.38 This report is the output of Stage C. This Final SEA Report is an update to the Final Draft SEA
Report (January 2015) to take account of the changes made in the ELAS SPD Adopted Version
(November 2015).
Stage D: Consulting on the ELAS SPD and the SEA Report
2.39 HCC invited comments on the Hertfordshire WLP Draft ELAS SPD (May 2015) and the Final Draft
SEA Report (January 2015), including the Non-Technical Summary (January 2015), between May
2015 and July 2015, in accordance with Part 5, Regulations 12 and 13 of the Town and Country
Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (Statutory Instrument 2012 No. 767).
None of the representations to the consultation commented on the Final Draft SEA Report or its
findings, or the Non-Technical Summary.
Stage E: Monitoring the significant effects of implementing the ELAS SPD
2.40 Proposals for monitoring the significant effects of implementing the ELAS SPD are set out in
Chapter 6 of this report.
Difficulties encountered and data limitations
2.41 The SEA Regulations require consideration to be given to any difficulties that were encountered
during the SA process, including any data limitations. There were a number of potential
challenges arising from the scope of this SEA, in particular the need to ensure that the
assessment of the likely effects of the numerous ELAS was carried out in a consistent manner. In
order to address this issue, detailed assumptions relating to each of the SEA objectives were
developed and applied during the appraisal.
2.42 Due to the scale of the SEA work required it was also recognised that not every local
characteristic would be able to be investigated in detail for each ELAS. For example, in relation to
the proximity of the ELAS to heritage assets it was necessary to base the score on proximity to
designated features only – while it was recognised that in some cases sites might be close to high
value non-designated assets, the strategic nature of the SEA meant that it was not possible to
investigate this potential for each site and the score was based on designated assets only. This
approach was considered to be the best way of ensuring consistency and a comparable level of
detail in each site appraisal.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 15 September 2015
3 Policy Context and Baseline Information
Review of Plans, Polices and Programmes
3.1 Annex 1(a) of the SEA Directive requires “an outline of the…relationship with other relevant plans
or programmes”, and Annex 1(e) requires “the environmental protection, objectives, established
at international, Community or national level, which are relevant to the plan or programme and
the way those objectives and any environmental, considerations have been taken into account
during its preparation”.
3.2 The ELAS SPD is not prepared in isolation, and is influenced by other plans, policies and
programmes and by broader sustainability objectives. These were reviewed in detail as part of
the SA/SEA of the Hertfordshire Waste Site Allocations DPD, and during the scoping stage of the
SEA for the ELAS SPD in September 2014. Appendix 3 details the relevant policies, plans and
programmes and describes their relationship with the ELAS SPD and the SEA.
3.3 The consultation comments received in relation to the SEA Scoping letter resulted in minor
changes/additions to the review and information included in this Chapter. The review presented
in Appendix 3 is the updated version which addresses the consultation comments.
Policy Context for the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD.
National Waste Management Plan
3.4 European Directives on waste influence the management and disposal of waste in the UK. The
revised Waste Framework Directive (WFD) (2008/98/EC) came into force in 2010, updating and
bringing together EU legislation on waste. A key change in the WFD is the revised ‘waste
hierarchy’ principle, which prioritises waste prevention, re-use and recycling (including
composting) before other types of recovery and finally disposal. The revised WFD has been
implemented in England and Wales through the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.
Therefore, the changes need to be reflected in national and local waste policy.
3.5 The National Planning Policy for Waste4 together with Defra’s Waste Management Plan for England
(December 2013) comprise the National Waste Management Plan for England for the purpose of
meeting Article 28 of the Waste Framework Directive.
3.6 As part of preparing the national waste management plan, Defra produced a Government Review
of Waste Policy in England 2011 (June 2011), which reflected the changes to the Waste
Framework Directive. The Review addressed the most effective ways of reducing waste,
maximising the money to be made from waste and recycling, and how waste policies affect local
communities and individual households. It specifically promoted the potential for waste to
contribute to energy generation through energy recovery, including anaerobic digestion.
3.7 The 2013 Waste Management Plan for England is a high level document which is not site-specific.
It provides an analysis of the current waste management situation in England, and evaluates how
it will support implementation of the objectives and provisions of the revised WFD.
3.8 At the local authority level, the Waste Management Plan notes that waste planning authorities
(county and unitary authorities in England) are responsible for producing local waste management
plans that cover the land use planning aspect of waste management for their areas. Waste
planning authorities should have regard to the National Waste Management Plan - alongside
detailed national planning policy on waste, the National Planning Policy for Waste and other
planning policy contained in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)5 in drawing up or
4 DCLG (October 2014) National Planning Policy for Waste. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-
planning-policy-for-waste 5 DCLG (2012). National Planning Policy Framework. Available at: http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/wp-
content/themes/planning-guidance/assets/NPPF.pdf
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 16 September 2015
revising their existing local waste management plans. The Hertfordshire ELAS SPD should
therefore have regard to the National Waste Management Plan.
National Waste Planning Policy
3.9 Although the NPPF does not include specific waste planning policy, Sections 1 to 13 address issues
of relevance to planning for the location, design and operation of new waste management
facilities. For example, the NPPF requires local planning authorities to enhance the natural and
local environment by protecting and enhancing valued landscapes and minimising impacts on
biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity where possible. The NPPF also requires local
planning authorities to recognise the importance of heritage assets and conserve them in a
manner appropriate to their significance.
3.10 National waste planning policy is contained in the National Planning Policy for Waste6, which
supersedes Planning Policy Statement 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste Management7 (PPS10).
The National Planning Policy for Waste provides information on how waste planning authorities
must discharge their responsibilities, and details how local planning authorities should use a
proportionate evidence base when preparing local plans, identify need for waste management
facilities, identify suitable sites and areas for new or enhanced waste management facilities in
appropriate locations, and how they should monitor and report. The changes in the National
Planning Policy for Waste compared with PPS10 are not substantive changes to policy intent,
although in line with the Government’s ‘rationalisation’ of planning policy and guidance documents
the text has been significantly reduced and some procedural elements have been deleted, most
notably the requirements relating to Regional Spatial Strategies and the particular arrangements
for London.
3.11 The abolition of the Regional Spatial Strategies reinforced the importance of councils’ Local Plans -
for waste, including the Hertfordshire WLP and ELAS SPD. The national waste planning policy
reflects this approach and stresses the importance of close co-operation between waste planning
authorities, so emphasising the legal requirements of the duty to co-operate in section 110 of the
2011 Act. Both the NPPF and National Planning Policy for Waste must be taken into account in
the preparation of local authorities’ local plans and are capable of being material considerations in
individual planning decisions.
Baseline Information
3.12 Baseline information provides the context for assessing the potential environmental effects and
sustainability of measures in the emerging ELAS SPD and it provides the basis for identifying
trends, predicting the likely effects of the ELAS SPD and monitoring its outcomes.
3.13 Annex 1(f) of the SEA Directive requires data to be gathered on biodiversity, population, human
health, flora, fauna, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including
architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the inter-relationship between the above
factors. However, the SEA only needs to report on those topics where significant effects are likely
to arise. If there is little or no relationship between the plan and the topic, then the need for
assessment can be ‘scoped out’ for that topic.
3.14 The baseline information collated for Hertfordshire was originally presented in the SEA Scoping
Letter (September 2013). In light of consultation comments received in relation to the Scoping
Letter a small number of amendments have been made to the baseline information and the
updated version is presented below.
3.15 The southern edge of Hertfordshire is only 20km from London, and as such is in the hinterland of
the city. Hertfordshire has a distinctive mix of medium sized urban settlements interspersed with
many smaller villages8, with good transport connections. It is one of Britain’s most densely
6 DCLG (October 2014) National Planning Policy for Waste. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-
planning-policy-for-waste 7 DCLG (March 2011) Planning Policy Statement 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste Management. Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-for-sustainable-waste-management-planning-policy-statement-10 8 Hertfordshire Structure Plan Review 1991-2011. Hertfordshire County Council. 1998.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 17 September 2015
populated counties with a population of just over 1.1 million9. Approximately 64% of the land
area of Hertfordshire is used for agriculture (much of which is classified as grade 3 quality in
Defra’s Agricultural Land Classification) while 7% is wooded, and urban areas and transport
infrastructure cover the remaining 29%.
3.16 Hertfordshire’s economy is characterised by three key features: the relative importance of a
small number of large firms (1% of companies employ 30% of employees); the large number of
micro-firms; and the importance of higher order functions such as headquarters and research and
development facilities10. Hertfordshire’s close proximity to London, strong communications links,
highly skilled workforce and good quality of life have attracted a wide range of employers to the
economy. The latest data for 2013 show that Hertfordshire has a high proportion of employment
in narrow knowledge-intensive industries and services (11.2% of employees) compared to
England (10.9%) and the East of England (9.8%), although the number of jobs in this sector is
decreasing11.
3.17 Hertfordshire has four sites of international biodiversity importance: the Lea Valley Special
Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
and Wormley-Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC. Broxbourne Wood (which forms part of Wormley-
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC) is Hertfordshire’s only National Nature Reserve. There are also 43
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (a national designation), 32 Local Nature Reserves, 34
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves, 11 Woodland Trust sites and one Butterfly
Conservation site. The 2013 Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report12 states that in December 2012
there were 1,896 designated wildlife sites covering about 8.3% of the county. Some of these
sites are in close proximity to the ELAS.
3.18 Biodiversity in Hertfordshire is identified and promoted through the characterisation of Natural
Areas and Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs). The principle ecological characteristics of
Hertfordshire are reflected in the five ‘Natural Areas’ that cover the county. These are part of
Natural England’s map of 97 Natural Areas13 in England that reflect local distinctiveness through
the identification of natural features, the interaction of wildlife, landforms, geology and
humans. There are four main Natural Areas in Hertfordshire which form distinct geographical
areas in terms of their wildlife and habitats. These are the Chiltern Hills AONB, London Basin,
East Anglian Plain and East Anglian Chalk, as well as a small part of the West Anglian Plain at the
northernmost tip of the County. The range of Natural Areas reflects the variety of habitats
present in the County. The majority of ELAS are located away from these areas, as a result of
being located within built up areas/industrial parks.
3.19 The landscape14 of Hertfordshire generally consists of large open arable fields which are the
result of 20th century intensification, significant and ecologically valuable woodland remnants and
former estate parklands. The townscape is typically of 20th century garden cities and post WWII
New Towns. Most modern construction occurs in the southern and south-western parts of the
county, while the north east is less densely populated and more rural.
3.20 Historic characteristics15 of various time periods are evident within Hertfordshire, including
Norman castles at strategic locations, rail and canal transportation links to London and Roman
development of settlements including St Albans, Welwyn, Braughing and Ware. Ornamental and
functional hunting parklands such as those found at Cassiobury, Gorhambury, Knebworth and
Theobalds are a key historic landscape feature found throughout the county.
3.21 Hertfordshire is particularly rich in archaeological remains and heritage assets. There are 176
Scheduled Monuments spread evenly throughout the county and there are 108 Grade 1, 472
Grade II* and 7,483 Grade II listed buildings with higher concentrations in historic towns such as
9 Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report. Available at:
http://atlas.hertslis.org/IAS/profiles/profile?profileId=900&geoTypeId=16&geoIds=26 10 Hertfordshire Structure Plan Review 1991-2011. Hertfordshire County Council. 1998. 11 Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report. Available at:
http://atlas.hertslis.org/IAS/profiles/profile?profileId=701&geoTypeId=16&geoIds=26 12 Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report. Available at:
http://atlas.hertslis.org/IAS/profiles/profile?profileId=982&geoTypeId=16&geoIds=26 13 www.naturalareas.naturalengland.org.uk/Science/natural/NA_search.asp 14 http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/leisculture/heritage1/landscape/hlca/lcacoll/ 15 http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/leisculture/heritage1/landscape/hlca/lcacoll/
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 18 September 2015
Hertford and St Albans16. Both of those towns have ELAS located within them. There are also 45
parks and gardens of special historic interest as listed by English Heritage. These include two
Grade I, nine Grade II* and 34 Grade II parks and gardens17. Hertfordshire also has one historic
battlefield, the Battle of Barnet in Hertsmere18, and many areas of archaeological significance
(also known as areas of archaeological importance).
3.22 Hertfordshire has a significant amount of valued greenspace, particularly its Green Belt which
covers over half of the county and has ELAS located in close proximity to and within it. Access to
open spaces and the protection of the green belt are important to Hertfordshire residents. Open
space is valuable for sport and recreation, amenity, education, nature, conservation, townscape
and therefore sense of well-being. Hertfordshire has many walking routes including the 11 mile
Ver Colne Valley walk which links St. Albans and Watford. The Alban Way and the Nicky Line are
open to cyclists and walkers.
3.23 Under the Water Framework Directive there are 46 designated river water bodies within
Hertfordshire19. Several of these are Chalk streams, recognised as a unique globally scarce asset
providing a pristine environment for wildlife with rich clean water and high quality habitat.
3.24 Hertfordshire’s dense population, spatial characteristics and high level of car ownership contribute
to severe capacity problems on the county’s road network. Continuing growth in road traffic in
Hertfordshire poses a serious threat to the quality of life in the county. The significant problems
of safety, congestion, access and the environment can all be linked to traffic flows that are higher
than the national average20. The County Council’s Local Transport Plan21 promotes sustainable
distribution through a strategy which seeks to minimise the impact of road traffic and particularly
heavy goods traffic in rural areas, while ensuring that any opportunities that may arise for rail and
water freight can be taken up. However, the potential for the alternatives of rail and water freight
are limited.
3.25 In 2013/14, the total amount of waste produced in Hertfordshire was estimated to be in the
region of 3 million tonnes, with an increase of approximately 17,000 tonnes since 2012/1322. Of
this, household waste accounted for around 502 thousand tonnes. This figure is slightly higher
than the previous year23. The 2014 Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report states that the increase in
total and household waste are a result of favourable growing conditions resulting in more green
waste and is also thought to reflect a slight upturn in the economy, and with this trend likely to
continue Hertfordshire authorities are considering the most appropriate ways to reduce this waste
prior to sending it for disposal24.. However, despite this overall increase in waste, there has been
an increase in recycling by residents up to 49.3%, compared to 45.5% the previous year. There
has also been slight reduction in the amount of residual waste (i.e. waste that is not recycled,
reused or composted) sent to landfill, down by approximately 7,800 tonnes on the previous year.
3.26 The 60 ELAS are located within Hertfordshire’s districts/boroughs as follows:
Broxbourne – 2 St Albans – 7
Dacorum – 9 Stevenage – 2
East Herts – 11 Three Rivers - 1
Hertsmere – 7 Watford – 2
North Herts – 10 Welwyn Hatfield - 9
3.27 The locations of the ELAS within Hertfordshire are shown in Figure 3.1.
16 http://hc.english-heritage.org.uk/National-Report/indicator-data/
17 http://hc.historicengland.org.uk/indicator-data/
18 http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1000001 19 Environment Agency (2014). 20 Hertfordshire’s Local Transport Plan 2011-2031, April 2011. 21 Hertfordshire’s Local Transport Plan 2011-2031, April 2011. 22 http://atlas.hertslis.org/IAS/profiles/profile?profileId=961&geoTypeId= 23 http://atlas.hertslis.org/IAS/profiles/profile?profileId=961&geoTypeId= 24 http://atlas.hertslis.org/IAS/profiles/profile?profileId=961&geoTypeId=
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 19 September 2015
Key Environmental and Sustainability Issues
3.28 Consideration of the policy context and baseline information enabled the identification of key
environmental and sustainability issues for Hertfordshire, which have been taken into account in
the SEA of the ELAS SPD. These are largely the same key issues identified as part of the SA/SEA
of the Waste Site Allocations DPD, and were identified at the Scoping stage of the SEA. The key
issues for Hertfordshire are presented in Table 3.1 below.
3.29 It is a requirement of the SEA Directive to give consideration to how the key issues are likely to
evolve, should the ELAS SPD not be implemented. Therefore, this information is also presented in
Table 3.1.
Table 3.1: Key issues and likely evolution without the ELAS SPD
Key issues for Hertfordshire Likely evolution without implementing
the Hertfordshire WLP and ELAS SPD
Hertfordshire has a rich variety of character,
both urban and rural, providing a high quality
environment for those who live and work in the
County.
Hertfordshire is under significant development
pressure. Evidence suggests that this
development pressure, including pressure
arising from demand for new waste
management facilities to manage increases in
waste arisings, is leading to a range of
cumulative impacts on biodiversity, water
quality and availability, air quality, tranquillity
and dark skies as well as potential impacts on
landscape character and cultural heritage and
soil quality. These issues are more likely to
continue as at present without the
Hertfordshire WLP and ELAS SPD.
Globally, climate change is the most significant
threat and opportunity facing us all. The
southern part of Hertfordshire is within a climate
change region identified as being under immense
pressure for water resources as a result of
development pressures and climate change25.
The Hertfordshire WLP and ELAS SPD would
help to make development more energy
efficient, less waste to be produced by people
and businesses, and responsible waste
management to be implemented (particularly
in relation to landfill gas emissions and
transportation). Therefore, without the WLP
and ELAS SPD energy demand overall would
be likely to increase due to population
increases and development in all forms. This
would lead to continued increases in
greenhouse gas emissions, although measures
to minimise these are likely to be
implemented.
There is a high demand for housing in
Hertfordshire, which will have a direct impact on
waste management. More housing is likely to
mean more waste unless decisive action is
taken to move waste management up the waste
hierarchy.
Hertfordshire is under significant development
pressure. Evidence suggests that this
development pressure, including pressure
arising from demand for new waste
management facilities to manage increases in
waste arisings, is leading to a range of
cumulative impacts on biodiversity, water
quality and availability, air quality, tranquillity
and dark skies as well as potential impacts on
landscape character and cultural heritage and
soil quality. These issues are more likely to
continue as at present without the
Hertfordshire WLP and ELAS SPD.
There is limited landfill capacity to meet the
current and future municipal and solid waste
Hertfordshire is under significant development
pressure and pressure to manage increases in
25 Living with climate change in the East of England. Summary Report, 2002.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 20 September 2015
Key issues for Hertfordshire Likely evolution without implementing
the Hertfordshire WLP and ELAS SPD
disposal needs of the county. There is a need to
develop alternative forms of waste management
and increase levels of waste recycling and
recovery.
waste arisings. Therefore, there is demand
for new waste management facilities.
However, without the Hertfordshire WLP or
ELAS SPD this demand is less likely to be met
and these issues are more likely to continue
as at present, with increasing pressure on
limited landfill capacity.
Implementing a waste strategy which will help to
meet Government targets will inevitably put
pressure on land resources in the County.
Land is at a premium in Hertfordshire. Much of
it is environmentally important, and the land
that may be available will be the subject of
competing claims for other residential and
employment uses.
It is likely that sustainable use of natural
resources and the movement of waste up the
waste hierarchy would be promoted even
without implementation of the Hertfordshire
WLP or ELAS SPD. However, development
pressure will continue to lead to increases in
water consumption, impacts on agricultural
land, potential sterilization of minerals
reserves and increases in waste arising which
will require treatment and disposal. Also,
siting and the use of technologies to minimise
the impacts of waste facilities (i.e.
encouraging the use of previously developed
land) and transport is likely to be less
effective.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 21 September 2015
4 SEA Framework
4.1 The development of a set of SEA objectives is a recognised way in which the likely environmental
and sustainability effects of a plan can be described, analysed and compared, with each proposal
in the plan being scored against each SA objective. It was considered appropriate to make use of
the SA/SEA framework that was used for the SA/SEA of the Waste Site Allocations DPD as those
objectives were designed to address the key sustainability issues facing waste management in
Hertfordshire which are also relevant to the ELAS SPD. The framework, which has been consulted
on throughout the SA/SEA of the Waste Site Allocations DPD, is presented in Table 4.1 below.
There are seven headline SEA objectives in total.
4.2 Minor changes have been made to the SA framework in light of consultation comments received in
relation to the SEA Scoping letter (see Appendix 1), and these are reflected in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1: SEA Framework for the Hertfordshire ELAS SPD
SEA Headline Objective Decision making criteria (i.e. Will the ELAS proposal…?)
1. To protect, conserve
and enhance the quality of
the natural and historic
environment, heritage
assets and their settings.
1a. Protect Hertfordshire’s Biodiversity Action Plan species and
habitats and seek opportunities for enhancement?
1b. Avoid adverse impact on air, ground and surface water,
geology, and soil quality?
1c. Protect, maintain and enhance Hertfordshire’s most valuable
assets such as landscapes of natural beauty, the historic
environment, heritage assets and their settings’ and
greenspaces?
1d. Protect dark skies from light pollution, and promote low
energy and less invasive lighting sources, considering the
balance between safety and environmental impact?
1e. Guard against the loss of woodlands, trees, hedgerows and
grassland and create or re-create habitats that ensure
sustainable and linked species population?
2. To achieve and promote
sustainable land use,
construction, design and
transport in Hertfordshire
2a. Reduce reliance on road freight movements and seek to
increase the efficient use of rail and water where appropriate?
2b. Improve efficiency in land use through the re-use of
previously developed land and existing buildings?
2c. Promote sustainable construction practices (e.g. minimising
construction and demolition waste, re-using demolition and
excavation materials, using recycled and local materials,
materials with low embodied energy and timber from
sustainable sources)?
3. To reduce contributions
to climate change.
3a. Reduce demand for energy and increase the proportion of
energy generated and consumed in Hertfordshire from
renewable sources?
3b. Address the causes of climate change through reducing
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 22 September 2015
SEA Headline Objective Decision making criteria (i.e. Will the ELAS proposal…?)
greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation/mitigation measures
(e.g. tree planting)?
4. To provide for
sustainable resource
management.
4a. Reduce demand for water and increase the efficient use of
ground and surface water resources?
4b. Develop and promote local water recycling initiatives for
development and buildings, and encourage rainwater harvesting
to reduce new development water needs?
4c. Reduce contamination and safeguard soil quality and
quantity and minimise the loss of best and most versatile
agricultural land?
4d. Safeguard reserves of exploitable minerals from sterilisation
by waste management-related development?
4e. Minimise production of by-products or wastes, and then
promote reuse, recycling, composting, alternative treatment
options and energy recovery before resorting to landfill?
5. To maximise the
potential economic
benefits of waste
management to a
sustainable economy in
Hertfordshire.
5a. Utilise waste as an asset to provide a source of raw
materials and some increase in employment levels?
5b. Foster joint working and partnerships within and between
public and private sectors in Hertfordshire and the East of
England region, with a view to better local investment in
alternatives to landfill and developing markets for waste
materials?
5c. Promote best practice in industry through local waste
minimisation clubs and other business fora, and to encourage
the extension of producer responsibility initiatives?
5d. Encourage the purchase and use of recycled products and
green procurement by public authorities and businesses?
6. To contribute to the
improved health and
amenity of local
communities in
Hertfordshire.
6a. Protect and enhance recreation opportunities for all,
including access to the countryside?
6b. Protect the health and amenity of local
residents/communities (e.g. from the impacts of noise, dust,
odour, light and traffic)?
6c. Achieve an equitable distribution of waste management
facilities within Hertfordshire?
6d. Reduce the incidence of crime associated with waste (e.g.
fly-tipping and illegal dumping of large volumes of waste)?
7. To maximise community
participation and access to
services and facilities in
Hertfordshire.
7a. Involve all sections of the community in waste planning
decision making and local action, by promoting waste
awareness education programmes in schools and the
community, and to ensure the public understand the importance
of the waste management industry?
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 23 September 2015
SEA Headline Objective Decision making criteria (i.e. Will the ELAS proposal…?)
7b. Promote easily accessible recycling systems for all members
of the community, and to ensure clear and understandable
signage and language is used?
4.3 Schedule 2 of the SEA Regulations provides a list of specific environmental topics to be addressed
(these are also specified in the SEA Directive). In drawing up the SEA objectives, care was taken
to ensure that those environmental topics were covered, as shown in Table 4.2 below. The table
shows which of the SEA environmental topics are addressed by each of the SEA objectives from
the Hertfordshire ELAS SPD SEA framework.
Table 4.2: Coverage of SEA topics by SEA Headline Objectives for the Hertfordshire ELAS SPD
SEA Headline Objectives Relevant SEA Topic(s)
1. To protect, conserve and enhance the quality of the
natural and historic environment, heritage assets and
their settings.
Biodiversity, fauna, flora, soil,
water, air, cultural heritage,
landscape
2. To achieve and promote sustainable land use,
construction, design and transport in Hertfordshire
Air, material assets
3. To reduce contributions to climate change. Climatic factors
4. To provide for sustainable resource management. Soil, water, material assets
5. To maximise the potential economic benefits of waste
management to a sustainable economy in Hertfordshire.
Material assets
6. To contribute to the improved health and amenity of
local communities in Hertfordshire.
Human health
7. To maximise community participation and access to
services and facilities in Hertfordshire. Population
Use of the SEA Framework
4.4 During the SEA of the Hertfordshire ELAS SPD, symbols have been used to show whether the
effect on an SEA objective is likely to be positive or negative, minor or significant, mixed or
uncertain as follows:
Table 4.3 Key to SEA scores
Symbol Effect
++ Significant positive effect
+ Minor positive effect
0 Neutral or no effect
/ Mixed effects (e.g. -/++ minor negative effects
and significant positive effects)
- Minor negative effect
-- Significant negative effect
? Uncertain effect
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 24 September 2015
4.5 The likely effects of the ELAS SPD need to be determined and their significance assessed, and this
inevitably requires a series of judgments to be made. This assessment has attempted to
differentiate between the most significant effects and other more minor effects through the use of
the symbols shown above. The dividing line in making a decision about the significance of an
effect is often quite small. Where either ++ or -- has been used to distinguish significant effects
from more minor effects (+ or -) this is because the effect of the measure on the SEA objective in
question is considered to be of such magnitude that it will have a noticeable and measurable
effect taking into account other factors that may influence the achievement of that objective.
4.6 The assumptions regarding significant effects for each SEA objective that were used in the
SA/SEA of the Waste Site Allocations DPD have also been used for the SEA of the ELAS SPD.
These assumptions are set out in Appendix 2 and have been slightly amended as relevant to
reflect the assessment of ELAS rather than the Allocated Sites within the DPD.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 25 September 2015
5 SEA Findings
5.1 The likely environmental effects of waste development coming forward on each of the ELAS have
been assessed as part of the SEA process using the SEA Framework and method set out in
Chapter 4. The findings of the assessment are described below.
5.2 Table 5.1 summarises the likely significant effects identified through the SEA of the ELAS in
Hertfordshire, and the effects of the Adopted ELAS SPD on each SEA Headline Objective are
described following the table. Note that other minor effects were also identified, and these are
described in the detailed SEA matrices in Appendix 4.
5.3 The decision making criteria highlighted in grey in Table 5.1 (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c,
6d, 7a, and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons given in the summary sections below and
in the SEA framework and assumptions (see Appendix 2).
5.4 As stated in Chapter 2, the Final Draft SEA Report (issued to HCC in January 2015) identified
recommendations to be included in the Draft ELAS SPD to improve its overall sustainability
performance. These recommendations were subsequently incorporated by HCC into the Draft
ELAS SPD (May 2015). These recommendations, which are included in this Chapter for
information, continue to be addressed in the ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 26 September 2015
Table 5.1: Summary of the likely significant effects of each ELAS if waste development is proposed
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
Borough of Broxbourne
ELAS160 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS161 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
Dacorum Borough
ELAS006 --? ++ ++ ++ -- -?/--?
ELAS007 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS168 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS164 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS167 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS169 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS174 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS175 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
East Herts District
ELAS186 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS187 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS176 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS177 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS178 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS181 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS189 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS182 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS183 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS184 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS185 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
Hertsmere Borough
ELAS021 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -- -?/--?
ELAS190 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS191 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -- -?/--?
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 27 September 2015
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS192 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS230 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS233 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS235 --? -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
North Herts District
ELAS026
(Icknield
Way East)
++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS026
(Main
Site)
-- --? ++ ++ ++ -- -?/--?
ELAS196 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS197 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS198 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS199 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS200 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS028 ++ ++ ++ -- -?/--?
ELAS193 0/--/- -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS201 -- ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
St Albans City and District
ELAS210 --? ++ ++ ++ -- -?/--?
ELAS122 ++ ++ ++ -- -?/--?
ELAS203 -- -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS204 -- -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS205 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS207 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS208 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
Stevenage Borough
ELAS037 --? ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS211 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 28 September 2015
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
Three Rivers District
ELAS212 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
Watford Borough
ELAS221 -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS213 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS214 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
Welwyn Hatfield Borough
ELAS048a ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS223 -- --? ++ ++ ++ -- -?/--?
ELAS043 -- ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS044 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS224 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS225 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
ELAS226 ++ ++ ++ -- -?/--?
ELAS227 --? -- ++ ++ -- ++ -?/--?
ELAS236 ++ ++ ++ -?/--?
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 29 September 2015
SEA Headline Objective 1 - To protect, conserve and enhance the
quality of the natural and historic environment, heritage assets and
their settings
Likely significant effects
5.5 No likely significant positive effects were identified for the ELAS in relation to this SEA objective,
which covers effects on biodiversity, air, water, geology and soil quality, landscape and heritage
assets. However, a number of potentially significant negative effects were identified.
5.6 Twelve of the ELAS have the potential to have significant negative effects on biodiversity for the
reasons described below.
5.7 ELAS026 (Works Road/Blackhorse Road, Letchworth (main site)), ELAS223 (Welwyn Garden City
Industrial Area) and ELAS043 (Burrowfields/Chequersfield) are partly located within Local Wildlife
Sites and/or areas (e.g. woodland) of local ecological value; therefore the development of these
sites could have a significant negative effect on biodiversity in general and the local wildlife sites
they contain.
5.8 ELAS235 (The White House Commercial Centre) is within 10km downwind of Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC, and ELAS227 (Sopers Road, Cuffley) is within 10km downwind of the
same SAC as well as the Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar site. Therefore, if a thermal treatment
facility were to be developed on these ELAS there would be potential for significant negative
effects on the qualifying habitats and species due to air pollution.
5.9 Six ELAS (ELAS186, ELAS 187, ELAS176, ELAS177, ELAS178 and ELAS227) are all in close
proximity to the A10. Should any waste facility be developed within these ELAS there is potential
for waste vehicles to travel along the A10, which may give rise to increases in air pollution within
200m of the A10. The Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Report for the Waste Site
Allocations DPD found that there was potential for in combination effects on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air pollution arising from waste vehicle movements along the
A10 if more than four allocated sites within the eastern half of the County were to be developed
at the same time. Therefore, there is potential for a significant negative effect on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC due to air emissions from waste vehicles on the A10, but only if these
ELAS were to be developed for waste use at the same time as other ELASs in proximity to the A10
or the three Allocated Sites in the eastern part of the County (AS019, AS025, AS238).
5.10 Two ELAS (ELAS160 and ELAS161) are both within 10km downwind of Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar
site and are in close proximity to the A10 and therefore significant negative effects on the
qualifying habitats and species could occur due to air pollution if a thermal treatment facility were
to be developed on these ELAS, and due to air emissions from waste vehicles on the A10.
5.11 Minor negative effects are expected on water quality as many of the ELAS are located in
Groundwater Source Protection Zones 2 and 3. While some ELAS are located within Groundwater
Source Protection Zone 1 (SPZ1), the development brief for these ELAS specifies that only
enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables,
along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, would be acceptable. No other potential uses
that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a risk to groundwater resources would be
appropriate. Therefore no effects would be expected on the protection of groundwater sources if
these waste facilities were developed in SPZ1.
5.12 Only one ELAS (ELAS193 Station Approach, Hitchin) is likely to have significant negative effects
on geology, as the site includes a Regionally Important Geological or Geomorphological Site
(RIGGS).
5.13 No ELAS are expected to have a significant negative effect on air quality, as all facilities are
considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and other
facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Note that the specific
effects of emissions from thermal facilities and waste vehicle movements described above, are
only predicted to have potential significant effects on the particular qualifying habitats and species
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 30 September 2015
of the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC and Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar site, as opposed to
air quality in general.
5.14 Most of the ELAS are likely to have negligible or minor negative effects on Hertfordshire’s
landscape and historic environment, heritage assets and their settings. However, eleven ELAS
could have significant negative effects on heritage assets. ELAS006, ELAS167, ELAS169,
ELAS185, ELAS201, ELAS203 and ELAS204 all incorporate/partly incorporate an area of
archaeological significance (AAS), and could therefore have significant negative effects on these
heritage assets and their settings. ELAS026, ELAS210, ELAS037 and ELAS223 either
incorporate/partially incorporate an AAS and/or have listed buildings located within the ELAS, and
could therefore have significant negative effects on these heritage assets and their settings.
However, as some of the ELAS have listed buildings located within 500m the effects are uncertain
in recognition of the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on
the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as
well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
5.15 It was not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on the protection of dark skies from
light pollution, and the promotion of low energy and less invasive lighting sources as the effects
will depend on the proposal (facility type, design, operating hours etc.), which would be assessed
at the planning application stage.
5.16 It was also not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on guarding against the loss of
woodlands, trees, hedgerows and grassland and the creation or re-creation of habitats that
ensure sustainable and linked species population, as effects will depend on the proposal (facility
type, design, etc.), which would be assessed at the planning application stage. Therefore, the
columns for those decision making criteria are greyed out in Table 5.1.
Mitigation of potentially significant effects on SEA Headline Objective 1
5.17 The potential significant effects on local wildlife sites which could result from the development of
waste facilities on ELAS026 and ELAS223 should be mitigated by Policies 17, 18, and 19 in the
Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD, which aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated
for (where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste management facilities are permitted. In
addition, the general ELAS waste brief states that appropriate measures should be incorporated to
ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or
European sites within 10km.
5.18 For ELAS160, ELAS161, ELAS235 and ELAS227, which could have significant negative effects on
international nature conservation sites due to air pollution from being within 10km downwind,
significant negative effects will be avoided if thermal treatment facilities are not proposed. In
addition Policies 16 and 17 in the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies
DPD aim to avoid impacts on these features, with Policy 17 stating that proposals for waste
management facilities will not be granted where it would have an irreversible effect on these
assets.
5.19 For ELAS160, ELAS161, ELAS186, ELAS187, ELAS176, ELAS177, ELAS178 and ELAS227, which
could have significant negative effects on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air pollution
arising from waste vehicle movements along the A10, significant negative effects will be avoided if
fewer than four ELAS/Allocated Sites within the eastern half of the County which are in proximity
to the A10 were to be developed at the same time. In addition, Policies 16 and 17 in the Waste
Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD aim to avoid impacts on these
features, with Policy 17 stating that proposals for waste management facilities will not be granted
where it would have an irreversible effect on these assets. Also, the Waste Site Allocations DPD
states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county
will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from the
Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC. The Waste Briefs for ELAS160 and ELAS187 in the SPD also state
that the transport assessments should include an assessment of the potential for air pollution
from waste transport to affect the Wormley Hoddesdon Park SAC.
5.20 Policy 16 in the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD aims to protect
soil, air and water and states that proposals will have to avoid negative impacts on soil unless
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 31 September 2015
appropriate measures can be imposed to mitigate harmful effects. This should mitigate the
potential significant effects of the development of ELAS193 which is within a RIGGS.
5.21 Policy 17 in the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD states that
permission for waste management facilities will not be granted where the proposal would have an
irreversible adverse impact on listed buildings and their settings and Areas of Archaeological
Importance. This should mitigate the potential impacts of the potential development of the ELAS
(ELAS006, ELAS167, ELAS169, ELAS185, ELAS201, ELAS203, ELAS204, ELAS026, ELAS210,
ELAS037 and ELAS223) which incorporate or partly incorporate AAS and/or listed buildings. In
addition, the general ELAS waste brief states that a desk-based archaeological impact assessment
would be required to confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has been identified as
having archaeological significance. This should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to model the current archaeological
potential of the site. The archaeological desk-based assessment should also consider the potential
for as yet unknown heritage assets. Depending upon the type and scale of facility proposed, a
detailed assessment of the potential for impacts on any identified heritage assets may be required
at the planning application stage.
Likely significant effects if mitigation successful
5.22 Subject to the mitigation set out above and below being successfully implemented at the planning
application stage and at subsequent construction and operational stages of proposals for waste
management facilities in ELAS, the identified significant negative effects should be
avoided.
Recommendations
5.23 The following additions to the Waste Briefs in the ELAS SPD were recommended to
ensure that relevant issues are considered at the planning application stage. These
recommendations were incorporated into the Draft ELAS SPD (May 2015) and have been included
in the ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015):
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Lee Valley SPA/Ramsar site if a thermal
treatment facility proposal comes forward on ELAS160, ELAS161 or ELAS227, it is
recommended that the Waste Briefs for ELAS160, ELAS161 and ELAS227 in the SPD also
include a requirement to include an air quality assessment of the potential for air pollution
from the thermal treatment facility to affect the Lee Valley SPA/Ramsar site.
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC if a
thermal treatment facility proposal comes forward on ELAS160, ELAS235 or ELAS227, it is
recommended that the Waste Briefs for ELAS160, ELAS235 and ELAS227 in the SPD also
include a requirement to include an air quality assessment of the potential for air pollution
from the thermal treatment facility to affect Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC site.
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from
waste transport travelling to and from ELAS161, ELAS186, ELAS187, ELAS176, ELAS177,
ELAS178 and ELAS227 should any waste facility be developed on these ELAS, it is
recommended that the Waste Briefs for ELAS161, ELAS186, ELAS187, ELAS176,
ELAS177, ELAS178 and ELAS227 in the SPD also include a requirement for transport
assessments to include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport
to affect the Wormley Hoddesdon Park SAC.
SEA Headline Objective 2 - To achieve and promote sustainable
land use, construction, design and transport in Hertfordshire
Likely significant effects
5.24 Sixteen of the ELAS are expected to have significant negative effects on reducing reliance on
road freight movements. These 16 ELAS (ELAS021, ELAS190, ELAS191, ELAS235, ELAS196,
ELAS197, ELAS198, ELAS199, ELAS200, ELAS193, ELAS203, ELAS204, ELAS211, ELAS212,
ELAS221 and ELAS227) could have significant negative effects on reducing reliance on road
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 32 September 2015
freight and increasing the efficient use of rail because they are distant from existing rail depots
and are located more than 3km from a primary route, and movements to and from waste
management facilities on the ELAS would therefore have to travel some distance via local
distributor roads.
5.25 All of the ELAS are located on previously developed land. As such, proposing waste development
on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on promoting the efficient use of
land.
5.26 It was not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on the promotion of sustainable
construction at this stage in the planning process. Effects will depend on the proposal (facility
type, design, etc.), which would be assessed at the planning application stage.
Mitigation of potentially significant effects on SEA Headline Objective 2
5.27 Policies 9 and 10 of the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD aim to
minimise transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable transport for waste
management. Policy 9 states that ‘Waste management facilities should be well located in relation
to the strategic road network as defined in the Local Transport Plan unless it can be demonstrated
that it can meet an identified local need. Support will be given to proposals which utilise forms of
transport other than road including by water or rail’. These policies mean that the potential
transport effects from waste development on these sites will be taken into consideration during
the planning application process.
5.28 In addition, the General ELAS Waste Brief states that all planning applications should be supported
by a Transport Assessment, as set out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document: ‘Guidance on Transport Assessment’ (March
2007). For any new access or significant alteration to an existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety
Audit must be carried out and opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an
ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Likely significant effects if mitigation successful
5.29 Subject to the mitigation set out above being successfully implemented at the planning
application stage and during the construction and operation of proposed waste management
facilities in ELAS, there should be no significant negative effects on reducing reliance on
road freight.
Recommendations
5.30 No recommendations are considered necessary for this SEA objective.
SEA Headline Objective 3 - To reduce contributions to climate
change
Likely significant effects
5.31 While it is not possible for the undeveloped sites to have an impact on reducing energy demand,
the development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant
positive effect on increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in
Hertfordshire.
5.32 Sixteen of the ELAS (ELAS021, ELAS190, ELAS191, ELAS235, ELAS196, ELAS197, ELAS198,
ELAS199, ELAS200, ELAS193, ELAS203, ELAS204, ELAS211, ELAS212, ELAS221 and ELAS227)
could have significant negative effects on reducing greenhouse gas emissions as they are
further than 3km from a primary route and development of waste management facilities on these
ELAS would increase the movement of freight by road. ELAS which are more than 3km from a
primary route would have to travel this additional distance by road.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 33 September 2015
Mitigation of potentially significant effects on SEA Headline Objective 3
5.33 Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 9 and 10 aim to minimise transport
distances and encourage the use of sustainable transport for waste management. Policy 10
states that ‘Proposals for waste management facilities must have regard to measures that
minimise greenhouse gas emissions and to climate change risks that will affect the development
over its lifetime. Proposals must demonstrate how these challenges will be effectively addressed
and/or managed.’ As the identified effects relate to transport, these policies should also help to
mitigate the impacts of development proposals on greenhouse gas emissions.
5.34 In addition, the general ELAS waste brief states that all planning applications should be supported
by a Transport Assessment, as set out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document: ‘Guidance on Transport Assessment’ (March
2007), and opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway
line.
Likely significant effects if mitigation successful
5.35 Subject to the mitigation set out above being successfully implemented at the planning
application stage, and through the construction and operation of proposed waste management
facilities in ELAS, there should be no significant negative effects on reducing greenhouse
gas emissions.
Recommendations
5.36 No recommendations are considered necessary for this SEA objective.
SEA Headline Objective 4 - To provide for sustainable resource
management
Likely significant effects
5.37 No likely significant effects, either positive or negative, have been identified for SEA
Headline Objective 4.
5.38 It was not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS in terms of reducing demand for water
and increasing the efficient use of ground and surface water resources at this stage in the
planning process. Effects will depend on the proposal (facility type, design, etc.), which would be
assessed at the planning application stage.
5.39 It was also not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on developing and promoting local
water recycling initiatives for development and buildings, or encouraging rainwater harvesting to
reduce new development water needs at this stage in the planning process. Effects will again
depend on the proposal (facility type, design, etc.), which would be assessed at the planning
application stage.
5.40 Most ELAS are likely to have mixed (minor positive and minor negative) and uncertain effects on
reducing contamination and safeguarding soil quality and quantity and minimising the loss of best
and most versatile agricultural land. Most ELAS have less than 1% agricultural land and therefore
have the potential to indirectly safeguard soil quality and minimise the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land, as the development of new waste management facilities in those
locations could reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Also, all
ELAS include the potential to accommodate Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities;
therefore there may be potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is
considered unlikely as facilities would be enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative
requirements to ensure the safe treatment of hazardous waste.
5.41 All ELAS are likely to have negligible effects on safeguarding reserves of exploitable minerals from
sterilisation by waste management-related development, as all ELAS are either located outside
the Minerals Safeguarding Area, or within the Minerals Safeguarding Area but on previously
developed land and therefore the mineral has already been sterilised.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 34 September 2015
5.42 All facility types developed on ELAS except landfill could have a minor positive effect by ensuring
waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy than landfill. However,
these effects are uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage.
Mitigation of potentially significant effects on SEA Headline Objective 4
5.43 No likely significant effects have been identified that would require mitigation.
Likely significant effects if mitigation successful
5.44 No likely significant effects have been identified that would be different following mitigation.
Recommendations
5.45 No recommendations are considered necessary for this SEA objective.
SEA Headline Objective 5 - To maximise the potential economic
benefits of waste management to a sustainable economy in
Hertfordshire
Likely significant effects
5.46 No likely significant negative effects have been identified in relation to this SEA objective.
5.47 The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any of the ELAS
could have a significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of
employment. All types of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have
an indirect positive effect on increasing employment levels during construction and operation.
5.48 The creation of new waste management facilities other than landfill within Hertfordshire may have
a minor positive effect by encouraging investment and the growth of ‘green industry’ in the
county, as well as fostering joint working and partnerships particularly in relation to management
of municipal waste. As the number of these facilities increases, a need to service these facilities
should generate activity in the local economy and help to develop markets for waste materials. In
addition, the new recycling and composting facilities will generate feedstock for reprocessing
facilities or composting outlets in close proximity, providing sustainability benefits associated with
the proximity principle and reduced transportation distances. However, the specific location of
individual ELAS for these waste management facilities would have negligible effects on fostering
joint working partnerships within and between public and private sectors in Hertfordshire as the
effects would be cumulative and would depend on the type of facilities that get proposed.
5.49 The location of new waste management facilities will not affect the promotion of best practice in
industry through local waste minimisation clubs and other business fora, or encourage the
extension of producer responsibility initiatives.
5.50 The location of new waste management facilities will also not affect encouraging the purchase and
use of recycled products or green procurement by public authorities and businesses.
Mitigation of potentially significant effects on SEA Headline Objective 5
5.51 No likely significant negative effects have been identified that would require mitigation.
Likely significant effects if mitigation successful
5.52 No likely significant negative effects have been identified that would be different following
mitigation.
Recommendations
5.53 No recommendations are considered necessary for this SEA objective.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 35 September 2015
SEA Headline Objective 6 - To contribute to the improved health
and amenity of local communities in Hertfordshire
Likely significant effects
5.54 All ELAS are within 500m of a recreational facility and/or open space and therefore their
development for waste use could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities by making them less attractive for users. However, nine
ELAS (ELAS006, ELAS021, ELAS191, ELAS026 (Main Site), ELAS028, ELAS210, ELAS122,
ELAS223 and ELAS226) could have significant negative effects as they all include public rights of
way which run through the ELAS. Therefore, those ELAS could have significant negative effects
on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside
by making the public rights of way less attractive for users.
5.55 All of the ELAS have the potential for a minor negative effect on protecting health, and a potential
significant negative effect on protecting the amenity, of local residents and communities. This is
because all development could result in the release of biospores and air emissions from certain
facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or
handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals
for all types of waste facility would also result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution
during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, the extent of these
impacts could be reduced and is very dependent on the design and potential mitigation measures
proposed for the facility, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. All of the
ELAS are within 250m of sensitive receptors (households and/or other sensitive land uses such as
schools and hospitals) and could therefore have a significant negative effect on the amenity of
occupiers/users of these sensitive uses.
Mitigation of potentially significant effects on SEA Headline Objective 6
5.56 Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect recreational
assets. Policy 18 states that areas of recreational value should be conserved and, where possible,
opportunities sought to enhance them. In addition, the general ELAS waste brief states that
consideration should be given to appropriate screening for proposed potential waste facilities that
are adjacent to public rights of way and that waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing
fields, leisure centres etc.).
5.57 Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents. Although all of the ELAS are within 250 metres
of sensitive receptors, Policy 12 of the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management
policies DPD states that ‘planning applications for proposals for waste management facilities will
be granted provided that…the proposed operation of the site would not adversely impact upon
amenity and health…[and]…applications for hazardous waste facilities should satisfactorily address
issues of safety and risks to human health…’. Policy 14 states that waste management proposals
should incorporate an appropriately defined buffer zone in order to safeguard sensitive land-uses.
5.58 The general ELAS waste brief states that:
Most waste uses can be housed in a building which would sit comfortably within an
employment land area. Where practicable, potential waste facilities should be enclosed in a
building to ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected by noise, dust and odour
generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive receptors. Appropriate measures
should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect
sensitive receptors. Further detailed assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that
may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc.).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 36 September 2015
Likely significant effects if mitigation successful
5.59 Subject to the mitigation set out above being successfully implemented at the planning
application stage, and through the construction and operation of proposed waste management
facilities in ELAS, there should be no significant negative effects on amenity and health or
the protection of recreational facilities.
Recommendations
5.60 No recommendations are considered necessary for this SEA objective.
SEA Headline Objective 7 - To maximise community participation
and access to services and facilities in Hertfordshire
Likely significant effects
5.61 No potential significant effects, either positive or negative, have been identified for SEA
Headline Objective 7.
5.62 The location of new waste management facilities will not have an effect on involving all sections of
the community in waste planning decision making and local action, by promoting waste
awareness education programmes in schools and the community, or ensuring the public
understand the importance of the waste management industry.
5.63 The location of new waste management facilities will also not have an effect on promoting easily
accessible recycling systems for all members of the community, or ensuring clear and
understandable signage and language is used.
Mitigation of potentially significant effects on SEA Headline Objective 7
5.64 No likely significant negative effects have been identified that would require mitigation.
Likely significant effects if mitigation successful
5.65 No likely significant negative effects have been identified that would be different following
mitigation.
Recommendations
5.66 No recommendations are considered necessary for this SEA objective.
Cumulative Effects
5.67 It is very unlikely that all 60 ELAS will be developed for waste management facilities due to the
number of other Allocated Sites within the Hertfordshire Waste Site Allocations DPD and the large
number of ELAS. It is also unlikely that many ELAS within close proximity to one another will be
developed for waste management facilities at the same time. Therefore, significant cumulative
effects are not expected to occur in relation to waste development within the ELAS. However,
where there is potential for cumulative effects to occur, as highlighted above in relation to SEA
Headline Objective 1 for example, adequate mitigation is in place and has been recommended and
included through this SEA to avoid these effects.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 37 September 2015
6 Monitoring
6.1 The SEA Directive requires that “member states shall monitor the significant environmental
effects of the implementation of plans or programmes…in order, inter alia, to identify at an early
stage, unforeseen adverse effects, and be able to undertake appropriate remedial action” (Article
10.1) and that the environmental report should provide information on “a description of the
measures envisaged concerning monitoring” (Annex 1 (i)). Monitoring proposals should be
designed to provide information that can be used to highlight specific issues and significant
effects, and which could help decision-making.
6.2 It is recommended that monitoring of the environmental effects of the ELAS SPD is tied into the
overall approach to monitoring the sustainability effects of other plans and strategies developed
within Hertfordshire (in particular the adopted Waste Core Strategy and Development
Management Policies document and the Waste Site Allocations document), as many of the
indicators proposed will be relevant to the ELAS SPD. Authority Monitoring Reports are already
produced for the County on an annual basis, and monitoring proposals are presented in the
SA/SEA report for the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD and the
Waste Site Allocations DPD. Therefore, it is recommended that monitoring of the potential
environmental effects of the ELAS SPD be combined with the annual monitoring process carried
out for the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD and the Waste Site
Allocations DPD.
6.3 As discussed in Chapter 5, waste development on the ELAS could have the following significant
effects without mitigation implemented through the policies in the Waste Core Strategy and
Development Management Policies DPD, Waste Site Allocations DPD, and the detailed
assessments and requirements required in the general ELAS waste brief and the specific ELAS
Waste Briefs:
Significant positive effects:
Efficient use of land, as all of the ELAS are located on previously developed land (SEA
Headline Objective 2).
Increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources (SEA Headline
Objective 3).
Providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment (SEA Headline Objective
5).
Significant negative effects:
Impacts on biodiversity through disturbance, landtake or air pollution (SEA Headline
Objective 1).
Impacts on geology through disturbance or landtake (SEA Headline Objective 1).
Impacts on the setting of heritage assets (SEA Headline Objective 1).
Reducing reliance on road freight movements, as waste vehicles would have to travel
further distances via local distributor roads (SEA Headline Objective 2).
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions as some ELAS are further than 3km from a primary
route and waste vehicles would have to travel this additional distance by road (SEA Headline
Objective 3).
Impact on recreation and access to the countryside by making facilities less attractive for
users (SEA Headline Objective 6).
Impact on the amenity of people using sensitive land uses, or living within 250m of a site
(SEA Headline Objective 6).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 38 September 2015
6.4 Therefore, it is recommended that monitoring is undertaken to determine whether these effects
occur due to implementation of the ELAS SPD, and in order to seek to remedy or reverse them.
6.5 Many of these potentially significant negative effects should be able to be mitigated through
implementation of policies in the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies
document, the Waste Site Allocations DPD and the detailed assessments and requirements
required in the general ELAS waste brief and the specific ELAS Waste Briefs, as described in
Chapter 5. Nonetheless, monitoring will need to be undertaken to try and identify trends before
such damage is caused and to enable preventative or further mitigation measures to be taken.
6.6 Therefore, the potential significant effects listed above should be monitored. Table 6.1 below
sets out a number of suggested indicators for monitoring the potential significant effects of
implementing the ELAS SPD, drawing on the indicators that are also used for the Waste Core
Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD monitoring where relevant (shown in italics
– the Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD indicators are numbered
“IN1, IN2” etc.). It is recommended that monitoring these effects be undertaken by HCC as part
of the annual monitoring process carried out for both the Waste Core Strategy and Development
Management Policies DPD and the Waste Site Allocations DPD.
Table 6.1: Proposed indicators for monitoring the potential significant environmental
effects of Hertfordshire’s ELAS SPD
SEA Headline objectives for which
potential significant effects have been
identified
Suggested indicators for monitoring
effects of the ELAS SPD
SEA Headline Objective 1 - To protect,
conserve and enhance the quality of the natural
and historic environment, heritage assets and
their settings
Condition of SSSIs and other designated sites
(Data obtainable from Natural England website)
Number of planning applications granted contrary to the advice of the Environment Agency, Historic England, Natural England,
Highways England, Sport England and other relevant consulted bodies within the county
council (Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD revised IN15)
Wildlife indicators (WH1-WH7) reported on
annually in Hertfordshire Quality of Life Counts
SEA Headline Objective 2 - To achieve and
promote sustainable land use, construction,
design and transport in Hertfordshire
Percentage of applicable waste management
facilities located within 5km of the primary and
strategic road network (Waste Core Strategy
and Development Management Policies DPD
revised IN14)
Number and capacity of non road-borne waste
management facilities permitted (Waste Core
Strategy and Development Management
Policies DPD revised IN13)
Heavy Goods Vehicles by Road Type reported
on in Hertfordshire Transport and Traffic Report
(http://www.hertsdirect.org)
Transport indicator (TR1 – Volume of motor
traffic) reported on annually in Hertfordshire
Quality of Life Counts
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 39 September 2015
SEA Headline objectives for which
potential significant effects have been
identified
Suggested indicators for monitoring
effects of the ELAS SPD
Number of yearly breaches of planning control and complaints received relating to operational waste management facilities in the county (Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD revised IN17).
SEA Headline Objective 3 - To reduce
contributions to climate change
Percentage of applicable waste management
facilities located within 5km of the primary and
strategic road network (Waste Core Strategy
and Development Management Policies DPD
revised IN14)
Number and capacity of non road-borne waste
management facilities permitted (Waste Core
Strategy and Development Management
Policies DPD revised IN13)
Heavy Goods Vehicles by Road Type reported
on in Hertfordshire Transport and Traffic Report
(http://www.hertsdirect.org)
Transport indicator (TR1 – Volume of motor
traffic) reported on annually in Hertfordshire
Quality of Life Counts
SEA Headline Objective 5 - To maximise the
potential economic benefits of waste
management to a sustainable economy in
Hertfordshire
None of the Waste Core Strategy and
Development Management Policies DPD
indicators are directly relevant, but District and
Borough Councils Authority Monitoring Reports
may give an indication.
SEA Headline Objective 6 - To contribute to
the improved health and amenity of local
communities in Hertfordshire
Number of planning applications granted contrary to the advice of the Environment Agency, Historic England, Natural England,
Highways England, Sport England and other relevant consulted bodies within the county council (Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD revised IN15)
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 40 September 2015
7 Conclusions
7.1 The ELAS in the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015) have been
subject to a detailed assessment against the SEA objectives which were set out at the scoping
stage of the SEA process. As described in Chapter 5, some recommendations for additional
mitigation measures to be included in the ELAS Waste Briefs were made during the SEA process
while HCC was preparing the SPD, and these have been incorporated into the ELAS SPD Adopted
Version (November 2015).
7.2 In general, the ELAS SPD has been found to have a range of minor positive and significant
positive effects on the objectives, particularly in relation to the efficient use of land, increasing the
proportion of energy generated from renewable sources, ensuring waste management occurs
using processes higher up the waste hierarchy and providing a source of raw materials and some
employment.
7.3 However, a number of potentially minor negative and significant negative effects could also occur,
particularly in relation to biodiversity through disturbance, landtake or air pollution, and in
relation to heritage assets through impacts on setting. There is also likely to be significant
negative effects in relation to reducing reliance on road freight and reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and on impacts relating to recreation and access to the countryside and amenity.
7.4 The severity of the identified effects will depend very much on the waste management facilities’
type, nature, scale, design and proximity to sensitive receptors, which cannot be known until the
planning application stage. However, there are also a range of policies in the Waste Core
Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD and the Waste Site Allocations DPD, as well
as the detailed assessments and requirements required in the general ELAS waste brief and the
specific ELAS Waste Briefs, which should provide mitigation for the identified significant negative
effects.
LUC
September 2015
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 41 September 2015
Appendix 1
Scoping Consultation Comments
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 42 September 2015
The table below lists the responses that were received from the statutory consultees in relation to the SEA Scoping letter for the Hertfordshire Waste
Development Framework Employment Land Areas of Search Supplementary Planning Document (12th September 2014).
Comment Response to consultation comment
English Heritage
General Comments
English Heritage recommends that our updated guidance (2013) on Strategic Environmental Assessment
(SEA) / Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and the Historic Environment is used to inform the environmental
assessment. The guidance is available via the English Heritage website:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/strategic-environ-assessment-sustainability-appraisal-
historic-environment/
The guidance sets out a series of general principles on the consideration of the historic environment in the
assessment process. For each stage of the assessment more detailed advice is provided to help ensure
that the impact of a proposed plan/strategy on the historic environment is adequately addressed.
Noted. The SEA has been undertaken in
accordance with all legislation and guidance,
including English Heritage’s updated guidance.
General Comments
English Heritage advises that the council’s conservation and archaeological officers are involved
throughout the preparation, assessment and implementation of the SPD, as they are often best placed to
advise on:
baseline information on the historic environment and heritage assets through the Hertfordshire
Historic Environment Record (HER);
the significance of designated and non-designated heritage assets;
local historic environment issues and priorities;
how Waste Employment Land Allocations can be tailored to avoid or minimise potential adverse
impacts on the historic environment;
the nature and design of any required mitigation measures; and
opportunities for securing wider benefits for the future conservation, management and enjoyment
of heritage assets, whether through the design and implementation of individual measures and
schemes and wider catchment management proposals.
Hertfordshire’s Historic Environment Team have
been involved throughout the preparation,
assessment and implementation of the ELAS SPD,
and have provided comments on draft versions of
the ELAS SPD. The Historic Environment Team
was also formally consulted on the ELAS SPD
during May 2015.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 43 September 2015
Comment Response to consultation comment
Relevant Policy Context
English Heritage advice on SEA/SA recommends that the review includes plans and programmes that have
a direct bearing on the historic environment. An indicative list is provided in the advice of plans and
programmes at the international, national, sub-national and local level.
English Heritage acknowledges that the current review will concentrate on those policies, plans,
programmes that are most relevant to waste management and waste planning. Relevant historic
environment considerations, however, should still be fully taken into account in the review as for example:
At the national level:
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) recognises that the protection and enhancement
of the historic environment is integral to achieving sustainable development; we welcome the
reference to the NPPF in the document and this should be expanded.
At the local level:
Conservation area appraisals and accompanying management plans, particularly for conservation
areas identified as being within, or adjacent to, Employment land Areas of Search (ELAS).
We request that those plans, policies and programmes referred to in our guidance and not currently
included be considered in the preparation of the SEA for the Strategy.
At the national level, a reference to Heritage at Risk is required. Reference should also be made to the
English Heritage Corporate Plan (2011) and English Heritage’s National Heritage Protection Plan (2011).
You should be aware that the next National Heritage Protection Plan 2015-2020, is currently being
developed, and will be published later this year.
At the local level, reference should be made in this section to the adopted Hertfordshire Waste
Development Framework Site Allocations Development Plan Document, as well as the relevant Local Plans
for Hertfordshire’s ten districts.
Noted. A review of Plans, Policies and
Programmes relevant to the ELAS SPD has been
undertaken and is presented in Appendix 3 of the
ELAS SPD. Further relevant policy context has
been included in Chapter 3 of the SEA Report.
Baseline Information
In accordance with our guidance, English Heritage recommends that a broad definition of the historic
environment is used to establish the baseline. This will include areas, buildings, features and landscapes
with statutory protection (designated heritage assets), together with those parts of the historic
environment which are locally valued and important (non-designated heritage assets) and also the historic
character of the landscape and townscape.
Noted. The baseline information included in
Chapter 3 of the SEA Report has been updated to
reflect the broad definition of the historic
environment.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 44 September 2015
Comment Response to consultation comment
Baseline Information
Together with our general advice on baseline information and the historic environment, the following data
sources can be particularly useful in providing locally specific information, as for example:
Historic Environment Records: These can be interrogated in various ways, as for example,
heritage assets located in or adjacent to identified Employment Land Areas of Search.
The character of the historic landscape and townscape and other valued historic landscapes. Urban
historic characterisation studies may be useful in providing up-to-date, mapped data on present
day land uses and the character of places as well as their historical development.
Noted. Historic Environment Records (including:
listed buildings, historic parks/gardens and any
scheduled monuments) were checked by HCC
using GIS when assessing each of the ELAS’s key
planning issues.
The baseline information included in Chapter 3 of
the SEA Report has been updated to summarise
the character of the historic landscape and
townscape.
Baseline Information
English Heritage also recommends that the baseline takes account of areas of archaeological importance
and the potential for unrecorded archaeology.
Noted. The baseline information included in
Chapter 3 of the SEA Report, and used in the
preparation of the ELAS SPD is considered to be
appropriate in terms of its scope, in relation to the
scope of the ELAS SPD that is being subject to
SEA.
Areas of archaeological importance are named as
areas of archaeological significance in
Hertfordshire. Reference to these areas has been
included in the baseline information in Chapter 3
of the SEA Report. These areas were considered
as part of the tests carried out on the assessment
of ELAS.
Baseline Information
English Heritage recommends that, wherever possible, data sets are mapped. This will aid the
assessment process by helping to identify those heritage assets or groups of assets that may be at most
risk from development proposals.
During the preparation of the ELAS SPD, HCC
mapped data sets to inform the key planning
issues to consider for each ELAS. This mapped
data has also been used to inform the SEA of the
ELAS SPD.
Baseline Information
For both designated and non-designated heritage assets, an important consideration is the contribution of
their setting to their heritage interest or significance. The significance of a heritage asset can be harmed
or lost by development within its setting. New development within the setting of a heritage asset may
Noted. The baseline information included in
Chapter 3 of the SEA Report, and used in the
preparation of the ELAS SPD is considered to be
appropriate in terms of its scope, in relation to the
scope of the ELAS SPD that is being subject to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 45 September 2015
Comment Response to consultation comment
also offer opportunities for enhancing or better revealing its significance.
Up-to-date information on the National Heritage at Risk Register is available via:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/heritage-at-risk/
SEA.
The assumptions used in the appraisal of the
ELAS, included in Appendix 2 of the SEA Report,
attempt to take into account issues relating to the
setting of heritage features.
Baseline Information
The statistics for designated heritage assets in this section should reflect the indicator data found in the
English Heritage publication “Heritage Counts.’ This publication and the indicator data are published
annually, usually in either October or November.
‘Heritage Counts’ can be viewed at:
http://hc.english-heritage.org.uk/National-Report/indicator-data/
The designated heritage assets in Hertfordshire are as follows:
108 Grade I listed buildings
472 Grade II* listed buildings
7,483 Grade II listed buildings
195 conservation areas
176 scheduled monuments
2 Grade I registered parks and gardens
9 Grade II* registered parks and gardens
34 Grade II registered parks and gardens
Noted. The baseline information included in
Chapter 3 of the SEA Report has been updated to
reflect the latest Heritage Counts data.
SEA Framework
English Heritage recommends the SEA assessment framework includes a specific headline objective for the
SEA topic on Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. The English Heritage guidance states that for an SEA/SA
to meet the requirements of the SEA Directive to assess impacts on cultural heritage, it needs to include a
Noted. Impacts on archaeology and cultural
heritage will be considered through the application
of SEA Headline Objective 1 and its relevant
decision-making criteria. Amendments have been
made to SEA Headline Objective 1 and decision-
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 46 September 2015
Comment Response to consultation comment
specific objective:
‘Conserve and enhance the historic environment, heritage assets and their settings’
making criterion (1c) to address English
Heritage’s concerns, as shown in Table 4.1 of the
SEA Report.
Table 1 SEA Framework for the Hertfordshire ELAS SPD
We welcome the inclusion of an SEA Headline Objective 1. ‘To protect and enhance the quality of the
natural and historic environment ‘but wish to see it reworded to reflect our guidance as highlighted above.
We also welcome the inclusion of a Decision making criterion 1c. ‘Will the ELAS Protect and maintain
Hertfordshire’s most valuable assets such as landscapes of natural beauty, historic built heritage, and
greenspaces?’ but also wish to see the wording change to reflect our guidance and refer to the
conservation and enhancement of the historic environment, heritage assets and their settings.
Noted. Impacts on archaeology and cultural
heritage will be considered through the application
of SEA Headline Objective 1 and its relevant
decision-making criteria. Amendments have been
made to SEA Headline Objective 1 and decision-
making criterion (1c) to address English
Heritage’s concerns, as shown in Table 4.1 of the
SEA Report.
Appendix 1 Hertfordshire ELAS SPD SEA Framework and Assumptions
We note, and welcome, the references to distances from, or locations within, or incorporating, or partially
incorporating designated heritage assets; Conservation Areas and Scheduled Monuments. Scheduled
Monuments should be described as such, and not as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. The reference to
Listed Buildings is welcomed, but should be referred to in both the ‘more than’ and ‘less than’ distance
sections. Registered Parks and Gardens, rather than Historic Parks, should also be referred to, as should
distances from Historic Battlefields.
Noted. These amendments have been made to
the SEA Framework and Assumptions in
Appendix 2 of the SEA Report, and additional
baseline information regarding Historic Battlefields
has been included in Chapter 3 of the SEA Report.
Natural England
Given the key environmental and sustainability issues identified we believe it appropriate for the
Employment Land Areas of Search Supplementary Planning Document (ELAS SPD) to be subject to formal
SEA as identified through the Screening conclusion.
Noted. The SEA of the ELAS SPD has now been
completed and described in this SEA Report.
Baseline Information
The information presented in this section appears to provide a suitable baseline for the SEA of the
emerging ELAS SPD. We are satisfied that this appears to consider relevant environmental issues within
our remit including potential impacts on biodiversity and geodiversity, including designated sites and
protected species, landscape, green infrastructure and soils and the potential effects of climate change –
and the inter-relationship between these factors.
We welcome recognition of Hertfordshire’s four sites of international biodiversity importance (also known
as European sites) and numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and local wildlife sites. The
Noted.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 47 September 2015
Comment Response to consultation comment
importance of the green infrastructure network for recreation, biodiversity, landscape and well-being is
also acknowledged together with the four Natural Areas of landscape including Chilterns Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Baseline Information
Whilst we welcome the fact that the majority of ELAS are located away from Hertfordshire’s four main
Natural Areas (Chilterns AONB, London Basin, East Anglian Plain and East Anglian Chalk) (as identified on
page 6) it will be important to ensure that the maintenance, protection and enhancement of these
features and other environmental assets is addressed through the SEA. Where adverse effects are
predicted suitable measures will need to be identified to address these taking, having regard to the
avoidance-mitigation-compensation hierarchy. We therefore welcome that the report will identify the
significant effects of the SPD on each of the SEA objectives, taking into account mitigation (which may be
provided by policies in the adopted Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies DPD and
the Waste Site Allocations DPD).
Noted. All potential effects on Hertfordshire’s
main natural areas have been assessed using the
objective led approach outlined in Chapter 4 of
the SEA Report. SEA Headline Objective 1,
particularly, supports this. This approach
supports the maintenance, protection and
enhancement of these features. Indicators are
proposed for monitoring the potential significant
environmental effects of the ELAS SPD in Chapter
6 of the SEA.
Key Environmental and sustainability issues
Natural England agrees with the key environmental and sustainability issues identified. An increase in housing will create more waste, increasing demand for landfill and placing further pressure on limited land resources, much of which is of high environmental quality. Natural England is satisfied that the scoping
report identifies relevant sustainability issues within or remit and we are not aware of additional issues that need to be included.
We support recognition of the threat posed by climate change, noting that the southern part of
Hertfordshire is within a climate change region identified as being under immense pressure for water
resources as a result of development pressures and climate change.
Noted.
SEA Framework
Table 1 SEA Framework appears to incorporate reasonable decision making criteria; however, we advise that Decision Making Criteria 1c should specifically reference the protection, maintenance and enhancement of designated sites, including European sites, SSSIs and Local Wildlife Sites. We would
expect this and other SEA environmental objectives to be embedded within the Plan document. For consistency with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) we recommend that ‘protect and maintain’ is replaced with ‘protect, maintain and enhance’. Otherwise Natural England believes the SEA
framework is appropriate and includes a suitable range of environmental objectives, including reducing contribution to climate change (noting that the framework has already been consulted on in relation to the SA/SEA of the Waste Site Allocations document).
Noted. The wording of Decision Making Criteria 1c
has been changed to ‘protect, maintain and
enhance…’.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 48 September 2015
Comment Response to consultation comment
We are satisfied that relevant plans, policies and programmes have been identified. We are not aware of any additional plans, policies or programmes that are specifically relevant to the SEA of the ELAS SPD.
Appendix 1: Hertfordshire ELAS SPD SEA Framework and Assumptions
The SEA judgements appear to include reasonable criteria for assessing the effects on those aspects of the environment within our remit including biodiversity, geodiversity, soils, water, green infrastructure and
access. We particularly support the proposed detailed consideration of the effects of allocations on air quality. We welcome that the distance criteria, for example in relation to designated sites and landscapes, are for guidance only given that pathways for adverse environment effect can extend over considerable distance, particularly where these are air or water related. Based on this and taking into consideration Natural England’s Impact Risk Zones26 we believe the distance criteria for designated sites are broadly appropriate given that this will be a coarse filter to identify those ELAS which could have unacceptable environmental adverse impacts.
Decision making criteria under Headline Indicator 1 are stated as ‘Protect Hertfordshire’s Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitats and seek opportunities for enhancement’. Given this we would expect
that ELAS proposals will be required to deliver biodiversity enhancements where possible. This could be identified within the + and ++ SEA Judgements, instead of being identified as ‘N/A’. This may apply to other objectives where delivery of environmental enhancements would be expected.
Noted. The SEA judgements for minor positive
(+) and significant positive (++) effects for
Decision Making Criteria 1a have been amended.
Appendix 1: Hertfordshire ELAS SPD SEA Framework and Assumptions
Natural England supports allocations on previously used sites in preference to greenfield sites, as advocated through the NPPF. However, the judgement under Decision Making Criteria 2b should recognise the potential for previously developed land to support wildlife, including protected species, and thereby have a negative impact on biodiversity. Decision Making Criteria 2b should cross-reference the requirement for protection of BAP habitats and species to ensure no adverse effects on biodiversity.
An important element of SEA is the consideration of reasonable alternatives hence we are pleased that the
scoping reports confirms that reasonable alternatives (policy and site options) will be considered and their performance in sustainability terms identified.
Noted. The judgements under Decision Making
Criteria 2b have been updated (see Appendix 2)
to recognise the potential for previously
developed land to support wildlife.
We welcome the proposal to include a monitoring framework to assess the significant effects of the plan on social, economic and environmental objectives. Monitoring will also verify the predicted environmental effects and confirm the efficacy of mitigation measures. Suitable indicators to monitor the effects of the
plan on biodiversity should be included.
Noted. Suitable indicators to monitor the
significant adverse effects of the plan are included
in Chapter 6 of the SEA Report.
In summary Natural England is satisfied that the Scoping Report sets out an appropriate approach to the
SEA of the ELAS SPD.
Noted.
26 Further information on Natural England’s Impact Risk Zones is available within the following link: https://www.gov.uk/protected-species-and-sites-how-to-review-planning-proposals#what-to-look-
for-in-planning-proposals
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 49 September 2015
Comment Response to consultation comment
Environment Agency
One thing that is apparent throughout the document is the lack of any specific acknowledgement of rivers. Under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) there are 46 designated river water bodies within Hertfordshire. Several of these are Chalk streams, recognised as a unique globally scarce asset providing
a pristine environment for wildlife with rich clean water and high quality habitat.
There should be mention of these within the baseline information, and within table 1 section 1b.
Noted. This information has been included in the
baseline section in Chapter 3 of the SEA Report,
and amendments have been made to Decision
Making Criteria 1b in Appendix 2.
In appendix 1, headline objective 1 section 1b – you mention ELAS located within zone 4 on EA
groundwater vulnerability maps, these are areas of karstic groundwater flow and recharge. There are
currently no areas of SPZ4 within Hertfordshire. You may wish to amend it to ‘areas outside of a
groundwater SPZ’.
Noted. These amendments have been made to
Decision Making Criteria 1b in Appendix 2.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 50 September 2015
Appendix 2
SEA Framework and Assumptions
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 51 September 2015
Hertfordshire ELAS SPD SEA Framework and Assumptions
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
1. To protect,
conserve and
enhance the
quality of the
natural and
historic
environment,
heritage
assets and
their settings.
1a. Protect
Hertfordshire’s
Biodiversity
Action Plan
species and
habitats and seek
opportunities for
enhancement?
++ N/A
+ All of the ELAS could have positive effects on biodiversity, as they may have opportunities to
deliver biodiversity enhancements. However, this will depend on the proposals that come
forward.
All waste proposals would have to be assessed against Policies 17, 18 & 19 in the Core Strategy
& Development Policies DPD which aim to ensure that impacts on designated sites and BAP
habitats are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for (where this is appropriate)
before proposals for waste management facilities are permitted.
0 ELAS greater than 500m from international, national, or local nature conservation designations,
or BAP Priority Species and Habitats are not expected to affect this objective.
- ELAS within 500m of a SAC, RAMSAR, SPA, SSSI, Local Wildlife Site or BAP Priority Species or
Habitats are assumed likely to have negative effects on this objective.
-- ELAS located within international, national, or local nature conservation designations, and/or
including BAP Priority Species or Habitats or BAP Priority Species or Habitats or Local Wildlife
Sites are assumed likely to have significant negative effects on this objective. A site will score --
? Against this objective if it is within 10km downwind of an SAC, SPA or RAMSAR site that is
vulnerable to air pollution and the Site Brief/Table 6.1 of the DPD suggests that Thermal
Treatment would be a suitable waste management use for the site.
Justification: Hertfordshire’s BAP considers that internationally and nationally important sites,
habitats and species as reflected in PPS 9 should take priority. Proximity to international, national and
local conservation designations was considered as part of the 20 tests applied by Hertfordshire County
Council to the longer list of potential waste sites considered for allocation in the DPD. Those in close
proximity to nature conservation sites should generally have been screened out and not identified as
Allocated Sites or ELAS. However, it is possible that some of the ELAS are in close proximity to these
features. There are no definitive distances within which waste management facilities are known to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 52 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
have a specific effect on habitats or species. The distances used for this appraisal are for guidance
only. They aim to highlight where there is potential for the development of a site to have a negative
effect on a habitat or species, for example through disturbance or air pollution. It is possible that
waste development at the ELAS which are more than 500m from species or habitats, could still have an
effect on those species or habitats. However, the potential for effects on habitats and species not
designated as SAC, SPA or Ramsar and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at
the planning application stage. Policies 17, 18 & 19 in the Core Strategy & Development Policies DPD
aim to ensure that impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are avoided, minimised or adequately
compensated for (where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
1b. Avoid
adverse impact
on air, ground
and surface
water, geology,
and soil quality?
Note that soil
quality is also
addressed under
SA objective 4c,
thus the SA
judgements and
assumptions for
soil quality are
not repeated
under this
objective.
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 ELAS which are:
Located outside of Groundwater Source Protection Zones27 Located more than 500m from Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Site
(RIGGS)
Are not considered likely to affect this objective.
Facilities which use enclosed processes for waste management (such as Transfer Stations,
Minerals Recycling Facilities, Mechanical Biological Treatment, Anaerobic digestion or ‘in vessel’
composting) are also not expected to affect either ground or surface water quality when in
operation.
- ELAS which are:
Located in Groundwater Source Protection Zones 2 or 3 (SPZS 2 ‘Outer Protection Zone’
27 Note that the Source Protection Zones were not included in the former SA Reports. The EA Groundwater Vulnerability Maps relate to the significance of groundwater aquifers,
and were included in the ’20 tests’ applied to the sites and were included in previous SA Reports. Source Protection Zones relate to abstraction sources and show the risk of contamination of over 2000 groundwater sources such as wells, boreholes and springs used for public drinking water supply. These zones show the risk of contamination from any activities that might cause pollution in the area (the closer the activity, the greater the risk).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 53 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
or SPZ3 ‘Source Catchment Protection Zone’) Located less than 500m from Regionally Important Geological/Geomorpholgical Site
(RIGGS)
Are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on this objective.
All types of waste management facility are considered likely to have a negative effect on air
pollution as a result of HGV and other facility-related transport during construction and operation
of facilities.
Some open air waste management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for
example when bio-aerosols such as spores or microbes on fine dust can arise from open air
composting facilities). Increased levels of dust also arise from other outdoor operations. The
use of open air processing facilities (such as composting, aggregate recycling and processing and
landfill) or enclosed facilities such as enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release
gases) on the site when developed could have a minor negative effect on avoiding air pollution.
-- ELAS which:
Are located in Groundwater Source Protection Zone 1 (SPZ1 ‘Inner Protection Zone’)
Include or are less than 500m from a Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Site (RIGGS)
Are considered likely to have a significant negative effect on this objective.
Justification: The extent to which a waste management facility will affect ground and surface water
on a potential site depends on the type of facility used, however, most enclosed facilities are not
expected to affect surface or ground water quality when in operation. As all ELAS are located in Flood
Zone 1, waste facilities are unlikely to affect flood risk. Proposals for all types of waste management
facilities are likely to lead to air pollution with regards to waste transportation by road, and the type
and extent of air pollution (e.g. from dust or other emissions) will depend on the type of facility
proposed on the site. Potential for adverse effects on these features will also be assessed at the site
development proposal stage. Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 in the Core Strategy & Development Policies
DPD aim to ensure that impacts on the water environment and air quality are avoided, minimised or
adequately compensated for before proposals for waste management facilities are permitted.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 54 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
1c. Protect,
maintain and
enhance
Hertfordshire’s
most valuable
assets such as
landscapes of
natural beauty,
the historic
environment,
heritage assets
and their settings
a, and
greenspaces?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 ELAS which:
are more than 1km from an AONB, are more than 500m from a Regional Park, are more than 500m from a Registered Park and Garden
are more than 500m from a Conservation Area are more than 500m from open space facilities are further than 500m from a Scheduled Monument
are further than 500m from an Area of Archaeological Significance (AAS) are further than 500m from a Listed Building are further than 500m from a Historic Battlefield
are considered to have no effect on these assets.
- ELAS which:
are less than 1km from an AONB, are less than 500m from a Regional Park,
are less than 500m from a Registered Park and Garden are less than 500m from a Conservation Area, are less than 500m from open space facilities, are within/partially within 500m of a Scheduled Monument ,
are within/partially within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance (AAS), are less than 500m from a Listed Building are less than 500m from a Historic Battlefield
are considered to have a minor negative effect on these assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape
or townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility
proposed, and its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage.
In addition, all ELAS are within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 55 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
have a negative effect on landscape or townscape character.
Where the site brief states that there is a listed building within 500m of the ELAS, an ‘uncertain
negative effect’ (-?) will be marked to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of
the listed building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on the precise location,
design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed building/s
identified.
-- ELAS which:
are located within an AONB, are located in a Regional Park, are located in a Registered Park and Garden
are located in a Conservation Area
include existing open space facilities include a listed building incorporate/partially incorporate a Scheduled Monument are within/partially within an Area of Archaeological Significance (AAS) are located in a Historic Battlefield
Are considered to have a significant negative effect on these assets.
The development of some types of waste management facility on ELAS adjacent to these assets
could also have a negative effect on the setting of these assets. For example, any facility which
requires large built structures could have a significant negative effect on the setting of buildings
within a Conservation Area or views from an AONB.
Justification: The distances from assets used to assess the potential effects of developing waste
management facilities at the ELAS are for a guide only and do not suggest that facilities within a
certain distance would definitely have an effect. The potential effect depends significantly on the type
and design of facilities, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. Policies 12, 17, 18
& 19 in the Core Strategy & Development Policies DPD aim to ensure that impacts on landscape,
heritage and greenspaces are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for before proposals for
waste management facilities are permitted.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 56 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
1d. Protect dark
skies from light
pollution, and
promote low
energy and less
invasive lighting
sources,
considering the
balance between
safety and
environmental
impact?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: It is not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on this objective at this stage in
the planning process. Effects will depend on the proposal (facility type, design, operating hours etc.),
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. However, Policy 12 in the Core Strategy
and Development Policies DPD aims to ensure sustainable design and construction techniques are
used, which include ensuring no significant light intrusion arises from the development.
1e. Guard against
the loss of
woodlands, trees,
hedgerows and
grassland and
create or re-
create habitats
that ensure
sustainable and
linked species
population?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: It is not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on this objective at this stage in
the planning process. Effects will depend on the proposal (facility type, design, etc.), which would be
assessed at the planning application stage. However, Policies 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 in the Core
Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to guard against loss of trees and woodland etc.
2. To achieve 2a. Reduce ++ ELAS which include an existing rail depot are considered to have a significant positive effect on
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 57 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
and promote
sustainable
land use,
construction,
design and
transport in
Hertfordshire.
reliance on road
freight
movements and
seek to increase
the efficient use
of rail and water
where
appropriate?
increasing the efficient use of rail.
+ ELAS which are adjacent to an existing rail depot are considered to have a positive effect on
increasing the efficient use of rail.
0 ELAS which are adjacent to a potential rail depot and are within 3km of a primary route are not
considered to have an effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use
of rail.
- ELAS which are distant from a potential rail depot are considered to have a negative effect on
reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
-- ELAS which are distant from a potential rail depot and are more than 3km from a primary route
are considered to have a significant negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Justification: As noted in the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPDs the development of any
of the ELAS for waste management facilities is likely to involve an increase in road transport as
processed or unprocessed waste will have to be transported to and from the site. However, the
proximity of sites to rail depots or canals could provide opportunities to explore more sustainable
modes of transporting waste. If ELAS are more than 3km from an existing primary route, it is possible
that either the road leading to the site would be upgraded, or freight would have to travel this
additional distance to reach the primary route which would further increase reliance on road freight.
Policies 1, 9, and 10 in the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to minimise transport
distances and encourage the use of sustainable transport for waste management.
2b. Improve
efficiency in land
use through the
re-use of
previously
++ ELAS which are on previously developed land could have a significant positive effect on efficiency
in land use. It is likely that all ELAS will therefore have a significant positive effect as they are
within existing industrial estates.
+ N/A
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 58 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
developed land
and existing
buildings?
0 N/A
- ELAS which are located on previously developed land could have a minor negative effect on
biodiversity. However, this is only likely to be the case where previously developed land has
been vacant for a period of time.
-- ELAS which are located on greenfield sites could have a significant negative effect on efficient
land use.
Justification: Policy 11 in the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD states that proposals on
greenfield sites must demonstrate that no better suitable previously developed land is available.
2c. Promote
sustainable
construction
practices (e.g.
minimising
construction and
demolition waste,
re-using
demolition and
excavation
materials, using
recycled and local
materials,
materials with
low embodied
energy and
timber from
sustainable
sources)?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: It is not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on this objective at this stage in
the planning process. Effects will depend on the proposal (facility type, design, etc.), which would be
assessed at the planning application stage. However, Core Strategy and Development Policy 12 seeks
to ensure sustainable construction practices are included within waste development proposals.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 59 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
3. To reduce
contributions
to climate
change.
3a. Reduce
demand for
energy and
increase the
proportion of
energy generated
and consumed in
Hertfordshire
from renewable
sources?
++ While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand,
the development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant
positive effect on increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in
Hertfordshire.
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
3b. Address the
causes of climate
change through
reducing
greenhouse gas
emissions and
adaptation/mitiga
tion measures
(e.g. tree
planting)?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- It is considered likely that the development of any of the ELAS will increase transportation by
road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
-- ELAS which are further than 3km from a primary route could have a significant negative effect
on reducing emissions as the development of waste management facilities on these sites would
increase the movement of freight by road, increasing emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km
from a primary route would have to travel this additional distance by road.
Justification: Test number 17 of the 20 tests which Hertfordshire County Council applied to the
potential waste sites considered for allocation was the distance from a primary route and the findings
have been drawn upon for this SEA. Policies 1, 9, & 10 in the Core Strategy & Development Policies
DPD aim to minimise transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable transport for waste
management.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 60 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
4. To provide
for
sustainable
resource
management.
4a. Reduce
demand for water
and increase the
efficient use of
ground and
surface water
resources?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: It is not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on this objective at this stage in
the planning process. Effects will depend on the proposal (facility type, design, etc.), which would be
assessed at the planning application stage. However, Policy 12 in the Core Strategy and Development
Policies DPD seeks to ensure sustainable construction practices such as efficient use of water are
included within waste development proposals.
4b. Develop and
promote local
water recycling
initiatives for
development and
buildings, and
encourage
rainwater
harvesting to
reduce new
development
water needs?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: It is not possible to assess the likely effects of the ELAS on this objective at this stage in
the planning process. Effects will depend on the proposal (facility type, design, etc.), which would be
assessed at the planning application stage. However, Policy 12 in the Core Strategy and Development
Policies DPD seeks to ensure sustainable construction practices such as efficient use of water are
included within waste development proposals.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 61 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
4c. Reduce
contamination
and safeguard
soil quality and
quantity and
minimise the loss
of best and most
versatile
agricultural land?
++ N/A
+ All ELAS with less than 1% agricultural land or only Grade 4 have the potential to indirectly
achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most versatile
agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land.
0 N/A
- ELAS which are:
between 1% and 50% Grade 2 & 3 agricultural land are considered likely to have a negative effect on minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
-? ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there
may be potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as
facilities would be enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to
ensure the safe treatment of hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore
be identified.
-- ELAS which are:
greater than 50% Grade 2 or 3 agricultural land are considered likely to have a significant negative effect on minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
Justification: The Agricultural Land Classification system used to identify the Best and Most Versatile
(BMV) agricultural land in Hertfordshire was published on an Ordnance Survey base at a scale of one
inch to one mile. These maps are not sufficiently accurate for use in assessment of individual fields or
development sites, and ‘should not be used other than for general guidance’28. As such, only ELAS
which are greenfield or incorporate undeveloped land are assumed to have an effect on safeguarding
the best and most versatile agricultural land. For all ELAS which are previously developed, it is
assumed that there would be no effect on safeguarding this resource. Policies 16 18 &19 in the Core
28 Agricultural Land Classification – Protecting the best and most versatile agricultural land – Defra (Rural Development Service), 2003.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 62 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to safeguard the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. Safeguard
reserves of
exploitable
minerals from
sterilisation by
waste
management-
related
development?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 ELAS located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area, or within the Minerals Safeguarding Area
but on previously developed land are considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding
reserves of these minerals as they are either outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and/or the
mineral has already been sterilised
-? ELAS located within the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on undeveloped land could have a minor
negative affect on safeguarding reserves of these exploitable minerals. The extent to which the
effect is significant depends on whether the whole of the site or part of the site is developed, and
if some of the mineral is able to be extracted prior to the waste development. Thus, uncertainty
has been expressed about this effect (-?).
--? N/A
4e. Minimise
production of by-
products or
wastes, and then
promote reuse,
recycling,
composting,
alternative
treatment options
and energy
recovery before
resorting to
++ N/A
+? All facility types except landfill could have a minor positive effect by ensuring waste management
occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy than landfill. However, uncertainty is
expressed (+?) as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the planning
application stage.
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 63 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
landfill? Justification: The Core Strategy includes an overall aim to ensure that landfill is a ‘last resort’ when
developing waste management facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher up the waste
hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be developed within ELAS.
5. To
maximise the
potential
economic
benefits of
waste
management
to a
sustainable
economy in
Hertfordshire.
5a. Utilise waste
as an asset to
provide a source
of raw materials
and some
increase in
employment
levels?
++ The development of recycling (HWRCs, MRFs, inert waste recycling, MBT) and in-vessel
composting facilities on any of the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on providing a
source of raw materials and some level of employment.
+ All of the ELAS could have an indirect positive effect on increasing employment levels when
developed during construction and operation.
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
5b. Foster joint
working and
partnerships
within and
between public
and private
sectors in
Hertfordshire and
the East of
England region,
with a view to
better local
investment in
alternatives to
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: The creation of new waste management facilities other than landfill within Hertfordshire
may have a minor positive impact by encouraging investment and growth of ‘green industry’ in the
county, as well as fostering joint working and partnerships particularly in relation to management of
municipal waste. As the number of these facilities increases, a need to service these facilities should
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 64 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
landfill and
developing
markets for
waste materials?
generate activity in the local economy and help to develop markets for waste materials. In addition,
the new recycling and composting facilities will generate feedstock for reprocessing facilities or
composting outlets in close proximity, providing sustainability benefits associated with the proximity
principle and reduced transportation distances. However, the specific location of sites for these waste
management facilities would have no effects on this objective as the effects would be cumulative and
depend on the type of facility that gets proposed.
5c. Promote best
practice in
industry through
local waste
minimisation
clubs and other
business fora,
and to encourage
the extension of
producer
responsibility
initiatives?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: The location of new waste management facilities will not have an effect on this
objective.
5d. Encourage
the purchase and
use of recycled
products and
green
procurement by
public authorities
and businesses?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: The location of new waste management facilities will not have an effect on this
objective.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 65 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
6. To
contribute to
the improved
health and
amenity of
local
communities
in
Hertfordshire.
6a. Protect and
enhance
recreation
opportunities for
all, including
access to the
countryside?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 ELAS which:
Are more than 500m from a recreational facility or open space Are outside the Green Belt.
Are not expected to have an effect on recreation activities.
- ELAS which:
Adjoin or are within 500m of a recreational facility or open space Are partially or within the Green Belt.
Could have a negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and
access to the countryside by making the sites less attractive for users.
-- ELAS which:
Include a recreational facility or open space Are partially or within the Green Belt and are not previously developed.
could have a significant negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational
facilities, as development of the sites would either mean removing part of a facility/open space,
or removing land which has potential for recreation/access to the countryside (i.e. if the site is in
the Green Belt).
Policy 6 in the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aims to protect the Green Belt, and
Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and recreational assets.
6b. Protect the
health and
amenity of local
++ N/A
+ N/A
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 66 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
residents/commu
nities (e.g. from
the impacts of
noise, dust,
odour, light and
traffic)?
0 Proposals over 250m from sensitive receptors (i.e. residents, schools, hospitals, offices) are
expected to have no or negligible effects on health.
- Proposals for all types of facility within 250m of sensitive receptors have the potential to have a
minor negative impact on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from
certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities.
These impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation
measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is
assumed that the facility will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health effects. Where ELAS are within 250m of sensitive
receptors, they will score a -? to reflect the uncertainty about the type of facility that would be
developed on the site at this stage.
Sensitive Receptors include:
Households
Accident and Emergency Hospitals
Country Parks
Dental Surgeries
Hospices
Hospitals
Hostels
Hotels, Motels, Country Houses and Inns
Nursing and Residential Care Homes
Physical Therapy
Places of Worship
Registrars Offices
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 67 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
Schools (LA & Independent) including Nursery Schools, Pre and After School Care
Surgeons and Cosmetic Surgeries
Training Providers and Centres
Universities and Medical Schools including FE Colleges
Youth Hostels and Other Youth Accommodation
Youth Organisations
Zoos and Animal Collections
--? Proposals for all types of facility within 250m of sensitive receptors have the potential to have a
significant negative impact on amenity, because all development would result in some level of
noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well,
although these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential
mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that the facility will be well run and that mitigation measures
implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential amenity effects. Where any potential
sites are within 250m of sensitive receptors, they will score a --? to reflect the uncertainty about
the type of facility that would be developed on the site at this stage and the impact that may
have on amenity.
Justification: All of the ELAS are likely to have a minor negative effect on protecting the health and
amenity of local residents and communities. Potential health effects are due to the biospores or
gaseous emissions that may be released from certain waste management technologies such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste. However, Government research
conducted in 200429, reviewed evidence from a large range of studies, and concluded that modern
waste management practices have at most a minor effect on human health. The minor effects related
29 Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management: Municipal Solid Waste and Similar Wastes. Prepared for Defra by Enviros and University of Birmingham, May 2004.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 68 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
only to possible effects on residents living close to two types of waste management facility: landfills or
commercial composting facilities. The studies into commercial composting facilities showed that there
might be a link between emissions from the facility and the incidence of bronchitis and minor ailments
in residents living nearby. The Government research explains that there are more studies into the
health of employees at composting facilities, which showed some association between health effects in
employees and exposure to bioaerosols. The Government research found no consistent evidence of a
link between exposure to emissions from incinerators and an increased rate of cancer, or that
emissions from incinerators make respiratory problems worse. In most cases the incinerator
contributes only a small proportion to the local level of pollutants (compared with emissions from other
sectors such as transport).
A distance of 250m from sensitive receptors has been used for both health and amenity impact
assumptions because Planning for Waste Management Facilities: A Research Study (ODPM, 2004)
states in the General Siting Criteria sections for all of the different waste management facilities that
where possible, they should be located at least 250 metres from sensitive properties (except Materials
Recycling Facilities, which could be located within 100m). Specifically for composting operations, it
states “Site specific risk assessment needs to be a condition if composting operations are to be located
within 250m of any working or dwelling place. Where possible facilities should be located at least
250m from sensitive properties, which may include business premises.” An uncertain significant
negative effect has been assumed for amenity, as disturbance to residents, schools etc. from noise,
light and odour is a subjective judgement and may be perceived to be significant by some receptors.
Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to protect
the health and amenity of local residents.
6c. Achieve an
equitable
distribution of
waste
management
facilities within
Hertfordshire?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 69 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
-- N/A
Justification: This objective has been addressed through a separate analysis of the potential for
cumulative impacts from more than one waste facility on settlements within Hertfordshire.
6d. Reduce the
incidence of
crime associated
with waste (e.g.
fly-tipping and
illegal dumping of
large volumes of
waste)?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: The location of new waste management facilities will not have an effect on this
objective.
7. To
maximise
community
participation
and access to
services and
facilities in
Hertfordshire.
7a. Involve all
sections of the
community in
waste planning
decision making
and local action,
by promoting
waste awareness
education
programmes in
schools and the
community, and
to ensure the
public understand
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: The location of new waste management facilities will not have an effect on this
objective.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 70 September 2015
Headline SEA
Objective
Decision
making criteria
(i.e. Will the
ELAS…?)
SEA judgements including assumptions and justification
the importance of
the waste
management
industry?
7b. Promote
easily accessible
recycling systems
for all members
of the
community, and
to ensure clear
and
understandable
signage and
language is used?
++ N/A
+ N/A
0 N/A
- N/A
-- N/A
Justification: The location of new waste management facilities will not have an effect on this
objective.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 71 September 2015
Appendix 3
Review of Policies, Plans, Programmes
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 72 September 2015
Review of Relevant Plans, Policies and Programmes
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
INTERNATIONAL
EU Directives
SEA Directive 2001
Directive 2001/42/EC
on the assessment of
the effects of certain
plans and programmes
on the environment
Provide for a high level of protection of the
environment and contribute to the integration
of environmental considerations into the
preparation and adoption of plans and
programmes with a view to promoting
sustainable development.
The Directive must be applied
to plans or programmes
whose formal preparation
begins after 21 July 2004 and
to those already in
preparation by that date.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive at the national
level.
Requirements of the
Directive must be met in
SEAs.
WEE Directive 2012
Directive 2012/19/EU
on waste electrical and
electronic equipment
(recast)
Reduce waste arising from electrical and
electronic equipment (EEE) Make producers of EEE responsible for the environmental impact of their products, especially when they become waste.
Encourage separate collection and subsequent
treatment, reuse, recovery, recycling, and sound environmental disposal of EEE. Improve the environmental performance of all those involved during the lifecycle of EEE.
Collection target of 45% of
electronic equipment sold that
will apply from 2016 and, as a
second step from 2019, a
target of 65% of equipment
sold.
Collect and treat 85% of all
WEEE generated by 2020 -
around 10 million tonnes, or
roughly 20kg per capita.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive at the national
level.
Include SEA objectives
which promote the waste
hierarchy and avoidance of
adverse environmental
impacts for all types of
waste generated.
The Industrial
Emissions Directive
2010
Directive 2010/75/EU
on industrial emissions
This Directive lays down rules on integrated
prevention and control of pollution arising from
industrial activities. It also lays down rules
designed to prevent or, where that is not
practicable, to reduce emissions into air, water
and land and to prevent the generation of
The Directive sets emission
limit values for substances
that are harmful to air or
water.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
Include SEA objective for
reducing pollution.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 73 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
(integrated pollution
prevention and control)
waste, in order to achieve a high level of
protection of the environment taken as a
whole.
the NPPF.
Energy Performance of
Buildings Directive
2010 on the energy
performance of
buildings 2010/31/EU
The Directive aims to promote the energy
performance of buildings and building units.
It requests that member states adopt either
national or regional methodology for
calculating energy performance and minimum
requirements for energy performance.
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objective
relating to the energy
performance/efficiency of
existing and proposed
buildings.
The Birds Directive
2009
Directive 2009/147/EC
is a codified version of
Directive 79/409/EEC
as amended
The preservation, maintenance, and re-
establishment of biotopes and habitats shall
include the following measures:
Creation of protected areas.
Upkeep and management in accordance with
the ecological needs of habitats inside and
outside the protected zones.
Re-establishment of destroyed biotopes.
Creation of biotopes.
No targets or indicators.
Should make sure that
the upkeep of
recognised habitats is
maintained and not
damaged from
development.
Avoid pollution or
deterioration of habitats
or any other
disturbances effecting
birds.
Include SEA objectives for
the protection of birds.
The Waste Framework
Directive 2008
Directive 2008/98/EC
on waste
Prevention or reduction of waste production
and its harmfulness. The recovery of waste by
means of recycling, re-use or reclamation.
Recovery or disposal of waste without
endangering human health and without using
processes that could harm the environment.
Development of clean
technology to process waste
and promote recycling.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives
that minimise waste
production as well as
promote recycling.
The Air Quality Avoid, prevent and reduce harmful effects of
ambient noise pollution on human health and
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the Directive as well as
Include SEA objectives to
maintain and enhance air
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 74 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
Directive 2008
Directive 2008/50/EC
on ambient air quality
and cleaner air for
Europe
the environment. more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
quality.
The Floods Directive
2007
Directive 2007/60/EC
on the assessment and
management of flood
risks
Establish a framework for the assessment and
management of flood risks, aiming at the
reduction of the adverse consequences for
human health, the environment, cultural
heritage and economic activity associated with
floods.
Preliminary Flood Risk
Assessments to be completed
by December 2011. Flood
Hazard Maps and Flood Risk
Maps to be completed by
December 2013. Flood Risk
Management Plans to be
completed by December
2015.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives
that relate to flood
management and
reduction of risk.
The Water Framework
Directive 2000
Directive 2000/60/EC
establishing a
framework for
community action in
the field of water policy
Protection of inland surface waters, transitional
waters, coastal waters and groundwaters.
No targets or indicators.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives to
protect and minimise the
impact on water quality.
Waste Incineration
Directive 2000
Directive (2000/76/EC)
on the incineration of
waste
Prevent or limit adverse impacts on the
environment (in particular pollution by
emissions into air, soil, surface water and
groundwater) and the resulting risks to human
health from the incineration and co-
incineration of hazardous and non-hazardous
waste.
Does not contain specific
targets
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives to
protect the environment
and human health from
the adverse impacts of
waste developments.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 75 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
The Landfill Directive
1999
Directive 99/31/EC on
the landfill of waste
Prevent or reduce negative effects on the
environment from the landfilling of waste by
introducing stringent technical requirements
for waste and landfills.
Reduce the amount of
biodegradable waste sent to
landfill to 75% of the 1995
level by 2010. Reduce this to
50% in 2013 and 35% by
2020.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives to
increase recycling and
reduce the amount of
waste.
The Drinking Water
Directive 1998
Directive 98/83/EC on
the quality of water
intended for human
consumption
Protect human health from the adverse effects
of any contamination of water intended for
human consumption by ensuring that it is
wholesome and clean.
Member States must set
values for water intended for
human consumption.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives to
protect and enhance water
quality.
The Packaging and
Packaging Waste
Directive 1994
Directive 94/62/EC on
packaging and
packaging waste
Harmonise the packaging waste system of
Member States. Reduce the environmental
impact of packaging waste.
By June 2001 at least 50% by
weight of packaging waste
should have been recovered,
at least 25% by weight of the
totality of packaging materials
contained in packaging waste
to be recycled with a
minimum of 15% by weight
for each packaging material.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives to
minimise the
environmental impact of
waste and promote
recycling.
The Habitats Directive
1992
Directive 92/43/EEC on
the conservation of
natural habitats and of
wild fauna and flora
Promote the maintenance of biodiversity taking
account of economic, social, cultural and
regional requirements. Conservation of natural
habitats and maintain landscape features of
importance to wildlife and fauna.
No targets or indicators.
Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives to
protect and maintain the
natural environment and
important landscape
features.
The Urban Waste Water Protect the environment from the adverse
effects of urban waste water collection,
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the Directive as well as
Include SEA objectives to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 76 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
Directive 1991
Directive 91/271/EEC
concerning urban waste
water treatment
treatment and discharge, and discharge from
certain industrial sectors.
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
reduce water pollution.
European
European Spatial
Development
Perspective (1999)
Economic and social cohesion across the
community. Conservation of natural resources
and cultural heritage. Balanced
competitiveness between different tiers of
government.
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives to
conserve natural resources
and cultural heritage.
EU Seventh
Environmental Action
Plan (2002-2012)
The EU’s objectives in implementing the
programme are:
(a) to protect, conserve and enhance the
Union’s natural capital;
(b) to turn the Union into a resource-efficient,
green and competitive low-carbon economy;
(c) to safeguard the Union's citizens from
environment-related pressures and risks to
health and wellbeing;
(d) to maximise the benefits of the Union's
environment legislation;
(e) to improve the evidence base for
environment policy;
(f) to secure investment for environment and
climate policy and get the prices right;
(g) to improve environmental integration and
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the Directive as well as
more detailed policies
derived from the
Directive contained in
the NPPF.
Include SEA objectives to
protect and enhance the
natural environment and
promote energy efficiency.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 77 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
policy coherence;
(h) to enhance the sustainability of the Union's
cities;
(i) to increase the Union’s effectiveness in
confronting regional and global environmental
challenges.
European Landscape
Convention (Florence,
2002)
The convention promotes landscape protection,
management and planning.
No indicators or targets. Should take account of
the Convention.
Include SEA objectives to
protect the archaeological
heritage.
European Convention
on the Protection of the
Archaeological Heritage
(Valletta, 1992)
Revision of the 1985
Granada Convention
Protection of the archaeological heritage,
including any physical evidence of the human
past that can be investigated archaeologically
both on land and underwater.
Creation of archaeological reserves and
conservation of excavated sites.
No indicators or targets. Should take account of
the Convention.
Include SEA objectives to
protect the archaeological
heritage.
International
Johannesburg
Declaration on
Sustainable
Development (2002)
Commitment to building a humane, equitable
and caring global society aware of the need for
human dignity for all.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Accelerate shift towards sustainable
consumption and production.
Greater resource efficiency.
New technology for renewable
energy.
Increase energy efficiency.
Should take account of
the Declaration.
Include SEA objectives to
enhance the natural
environment and promote
renewable energy and
energy efficiency.
Aarhus Convention
(1998)
Established a number of rights of the public
with regard to the environment. Local
authorities should provide for:
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the Convention.
Ensure that public are
involved and consulted at
all relevant stages of SEA
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 78 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
The right of everyone to receive environmental
information
The right to participate from an early stage in
environmental decision making
The right to challenge in a court of law public
decisions that have been made without
respecting the two rights above or
environmental law in general.
production.
NATIONAL
National Planning Policy
Framework
Presumption in favour of sustainable
development.
Delivering sustainable development by:
No targets or indicators. SPD supplements the
statutory status of the
Development Plan as
the starting point for
decision making.
SEA should be an integral
part of the plan
preparation process, and
should consider all the
likely significant effects on
the environment.
Building a strong, competitive economy. No targets or indicators. Support economic
visions for that
particular area.
Include a SEA objective
relating to strengthening
the economy.
Ensuring vitality of town centres. No targets or indicators. Recognise town centres
as the heart of their
communities.
Include a SEA objective
relating to the vitality of
town centres.
Promoting sustainable transport No targets or indicators. Support the
implementation of
sustainable transport
modes depending on
nature/location of the
ELAS, to reduce the
need for major
Include a SEA objective
relating to sustainable
transport.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 79 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
transport infrastructure.
Requiring good design. No targets or indicators.
Establish a strong
sense of place to live,
work and visit.
Include a SEA objective
relating to good design.
Promoting healthy communities. No targets or indicators.
Promote safe and
accessible
environments with a
high quality of life and
community cohesion.
Include a sustainability
objective relating to health
and well-being.
Protecting Green Belt Land. No targets or indicators.
To achieve and promote
sustainable land use.
Include a SEA objective
relating to sustainable land
use.
Meeting the challenge of climate change,
flooding, and coastal change.
No targets or indicators.
Use opportunities
offered by new
development to reduce
causes/impacts of
flooding.
Include a SEA objective
relating to climate change
mitigation and adaption.
Conserving and enhancing the natural
environment.
No targets or indicators.
Recognise the wider
benefits of biodiversity.
Include a SEA objective
relating to the
conservation and
enhancement of the
natural environment.
Conserving and enhancing the historic
environment
No targets or indicators.
Sustain and enhance
heritage assets and put
them to viable uses
consistent with their
conservation.
Include a SEA objective
relating to the
conservation of historic
features.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 80 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
Facilitating the use of sustainable materials. No targets or indicators. Encourage prior
extraction of minerals
where practicable and
environmentally
feasible.
Include a SEA objective
relating to sustainable
mineral extraction.
National Planning Policy
for Waste
The National Planning Policy for Waste was
adopted in October 2014 and sets out the need
for local authorities to:
Prepare local plans using a robust
proportionate evidence base
Identify need for waste management
facilities
Identify suitable sites and areas
Determine planning applications
Monitor and report:
o Take up in allocated sites and
areas
o Existing stock and changes in
the stock of waste
management facilities.
o The amount of waste recycled,
recovered or going for disposal.
No targets or indicators. Should have regard to
the National Planning
Policy for Waste
Include a sustainability
objective relating to
sustainable waste
management.
Legislation
Waste (England and
Wales) Regulations
2011
The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations
2011 came into force on 29 March 2011.
They updated some aspects of waste controls.
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the regulations.
Include SEA objectives
relating to sustainable
waste management.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 81 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
The need for waste permits and authorisations
for certain activities therefore does not change.
In summary, the regulations implement the
revised Waste Framework Directive and;
require businesses to confirm that they have applied the waste management hierarchy when transferring waste and
to include a declaration on their waste transfer note or consignment note;
require a new permit waste hierarchy permit condition and where appropriate
a condition relating to mixing of hazardous waste
introduce a two-tier system for waste carrier and broker registration, which includes those who carry their own waste, and introduces a new concept of a waste dealer;
make amendments to hazardous waste controls and definition;
exclude some categories of waste from
waste controls
National Plans, Programmes and Strategies
Waste Management
Plan for England (2013)
Provides an analysis of the current waste
management situation in England, and
evaluates how it will support implementation of
the objectives and provisions of the revised
Waste Framework Directive.
At the local authority level, the Waste
Management Plan notes that waste planning
authorities (county and unitary authorities in
England) are responsible for producing local
No targets or indicators.
Should have regard to
the National Waste
Management Plan.
Include SEA objectives
relating to sustainable
waste management.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 82 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
waste management plans that cover the land
use planning aspect of waste management for
their areas.
Waste prevention
programme for
England: Prevention is
better than cure – The
role of waste
prevention in moving to
a more resource
efficient economy (HM
Government, 2013)
The aim of the Programme is to improve the
environment and protect human health by
supporting a resource efficient economy,
reducing the quantity and impact of waste
produced whilst promoting sustainable
economic growth:
encourage businesses to contribute to a
more sustainable economy by building
waste reduction into design, offering
alternative business models and delivering
new and improved products and services;
encourage a culture of valuing resources by
making it easier for people and businesses
to find out how to reduce their waste, to
use products for longer, repair broken
items, and enable reuse of items by others;
help businesses recognise and act upon
potential savings through better resource
efficiency and preventing waste, to realise
opportunities for growth; and
support action by central and local
government, businesses and civil society to
capitalise on these opportunities.
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the strategic measures
in the Programme.
Include SEA objectives
which seek to promote
waste prevention.
DEFRA (2011) Securing
the Future: Delivering
UK Sustainable
Development Strategy
Enable all people throughout the world to
satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better
quality of life without compromising the quality
of life for future generations. There are 4
Sets out indicators to give an
overview of sustainable
development and priority
areas in the UK. They include
Should meet the aims
of the Sustainable
Development Strategy.
Include SEA objectives to
cover the shared priorities.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 83 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
shared priorities:
sustainable consumption and production;
climate change and energy;
natural resource protection and environmental
enhancement; and
sustainable communities.
20 of the UK Framework
indicators and a further 48
indicators related to the
priority areas.
Department of Health
(2010) Healthy Lives,
Healthy People: our
Strategy for public
health in England
Protect the population from serious health
threats; helping people live longer, healthier
and more fulfilling lives; and improving the
health of the poorest, fastest. Prioritise public
health funding from within the overall NHS
budget.
No targets or indicators. Should reflect the
objectives of the
strategy where
relevant.
Include a SEA objective
relating to health and well-
being.
DECC (2009) The UK
Renewable Energy
Strategy
Increase our use of renewable electricity, heat
and transport, and help tackle climate change.
Build the UK low-carbon economy, promote
energy security and take action against climate
change.
15% of energy from
renewable sources by 2020.
Reducing UK CO2 emissions
by 750 million tonnes by
2030.
Should support
renewable energy
provision including
electricity, heat and
transport.
Include a SEA objective
relating to increasing
energy provided from
decentralised community
renewable sources.
The National Adaptation
Programme – Making
the Country Resilient to
a Changing Climate
(Defra, 2013)
The report sets out visions for the following
sectors:
Built Environment – “buildings and places
and the people who live and work in them
are resilient to a changing climate and
extreme weather and organisations in the
built environment sector have an increased
capacity to address the risks and take the
opportunities from climate change”.
Infrastructure – “an infrastructure network
that is resilient to today’s natural hazards
and prepared for the future changing
No targets or indicators. Should take account of
the visions set out in
the Programme.
Include SEA objectives
which seek to promote the
implementation of
adaptation measures to
make the area more
resilient to a changing
climate.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 84 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
climate”.
Healthy and resilient communities – “a
health service, a public health and social
care system which are resilient and adapted
to a changing climate. Communities and
individuals, including the most vulnerable,
are better prepared to cope with severe
weather events and other impacts of
climate change. Emergency services and
local resilience capability take account of
and are resilient to, a changing climate”.
Agriculture and Forestry – “profitable and
productive agriculture and forestry sectors
that take the opportunities from climate
change, are resilient to its threats and
contribute to the resilience of the natural
environment by helping maintain ecosystem
services and protect and enhance
biodiversity”.
Natural Environment – “the natural
environment, with diverse and healthy
ecosystems, is resilient to climate change,
able to accommodate change and valued
for the adaptation services it provides”.
Business – “UK businesses are resilient to
extreme weather and prepared for future
risks and opportunities from climate
change”.
Local Government – “Local government
plays a central in leading and supporting
local places to become more resilient to a
range of future risk and to be prepared for
the opportunities from a changing climate”.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 85 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
The National Flood and
Coastal Erosion Risk
Management Strategy
for England
(Environment Agency,
2011)
This Strategy sets out the national framework
for managing the risk of flooding and coastal
erosion. It sets out the roles for risk
management authorities and communities to
help them understand their responsibilities.
The strategic aims and objectives of the
Strategy are to:
“manage the risk to people and their
property;
Facilitate decision-making and action at the
appropriate level – individual, community or
local authority, river catchment, coastal cell
or national;
Achieve environmental, social and economic
benefits, consistent with the principles of
sustainable development”.
No targets or indicators. Should seek to reduce
and manage the risk of
all types of flooding.
The SEA framework should
include
objectives/indicators which
seek to reduce the risk and
manage flooding
sustainably.
DEFRA (2007) The Air
Quality Strategy for
England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern
Ireland
Make sure that everyone can enjoy a level of
ambient air quality in public spaces, which
poses no significant risk to health or quality of
life.
Render polluting emissions harmless.
Sets air quality standards for
13 air pollutants.
Should comply with the
standards.
Include SEA objectives to
protect and improve air
quality.
Future Water: The
Government’s Water
Strategy for England
(DEFRA, 2008)
Sets out how the Government want the water
sector to look by 2030 and an outline of the
steps which need to be taken to get there.
The vision for 2030 is one where we, as a
country have:
“improved the quality of our water
environment and the ecology it supports,
and continue to maintain high standards of
drinking water quality from taps;
No targets or indicators. Should aim to
contribute to the vision
set out in this Strategy.
Include SEA objectives
which seek to protect,
manage and enhance the
water environment.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 86 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
Sustainably managed risks from flooding
and coastal erosion, with greater
understanding and more effective
management of surface water;
Ensure a sustainable use of water
resources, and implement fair, affordable
and cost-reflective water charges;
Cut greenhouse gas emissions; and
Embed continuous adaptation to climate
change and other pressures across the
water industry and water users”.
Water for People and
the Environment: Water
Resources Strategy for
England and Wales
(Environment Agency,
2009)
The Strategy vision for water resource “is
for there to be enough water for people and
the environment, meeting legitimate
needs”.
Its aims include:
To manage water resource and protect the
water environment from climate change.
Restore, protect, improve and value species
and habitats that depend on water.
To contribute to sustainable development
through good water management.
People to understand how water and the
water environment contribute to their
quality of life.
No targets or indicators. Should reflect the aims
of the strategy where
relevant.
Include SEA objective
which seeks to promote
water management and
efficiency.
Safeguarding our Soils:
A Strategy for England
(DEFRA, 2009)
The vision is “by 2030, all England’s soils
will be managed sustainability and
degradation threats tackled successfully.
This will improve the quality of England’s
soils and safeguard their ability to provide
essential services for future generations”.
The Strategy highlights the areas for priority
including:
No targets or indicators. Should help protect and
enhance the quality of
soils and seek to
sustainably manage
their quality for future
generations.
Include SEA objective
which seeks to safeguard
and enhance the quality of
soil.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 87 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
Better protection for agricultural soils.
Protecting and enhancing stores of soil
carbon.
Building the resilience of soils to a changing
climate.
Preventing soil pollution.
Effective soil protection during construction
and development.
Dealing with our legacy of contaminated
land.
DEFRA (2011)
Biodiversity 2020: A
strategy for England’s
wildlife and ecosystem
services
The strategy aims to guide conservation efforts
in England up to 2020, and move from a net
biodiversity loss to gain. The strategy includes
22 priorities which include actions for the
following sectors:
Agriculture;
Forestry;
Planning and Development;
Water Management;
Marine Management;
Fisheries;
Air Pollution; and
Invasive Non-Native Species.
The strategy develops
ambitious yet achievable
goals for 2020 and 2050,
based on Aichi Targets set at
the Nagoya UN Biodiversity
Summit in October 2010.
Develop policies that
promote conservation
and enhancements of
biodiversity.
Include SEA objective that
relates to biodiversity.
DfT (2013) Door to
Door: A strategy for
improving sustainable
transport integration
The strategy’s vision is for an inclusive,
integrated and innovative transport system
that works for everyone, and where making
door-to-door journeys by sustainable means is
an attractive and convenient option. Four key
areas to address are highlighted:
improving availability of information;
simplifying ticketing;
No targets or indicators. Enhance public
transport provision and
encourage active
modes of travel such as
walking and cycling.
Include a SEA objective
relating to sustainable
transport.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 88 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
making connections between different steps
in the journey, and different modes of
transport, easier; and
providing better interchange facilities.
White Papers
Natural Environment
White Paper, 2011
The Natural Choice:
securing the value of
nature
Protecting and improving our natural
environment;
Growing a green economy; and
Reconnecting people and nature.
No targets or indicators.
Protect the intrinsic
value of nature and
recognise the multiple
benefits it could have
for communities.
Include a SEA objective
relating to the
enhancement of the
natural environment.
Electricity Market
Reform White Paper
2011, Planning our
Electric Future: A White
Paper for Secure,
Affordable and Low-
Carbon Electricity
This White Paper sets out the Government’s
commitment to transform the UK’s electricity
system to ensure that our future electricity
supply is secure, low-carbon and affordable.
15 per cent renewable energy
target by 2020 and 80 per
cent carbon reduction target
by 2050.
Support renewable
energy generation and
encourage greater
energy efficiency.
Include SEA objectives to
reduce carbon emissions
and increase proportion of
energy generated from
renewable sources.
Water White Paper,
2011
Water for Life
Objectives of the White Paper are to:
Paint a clear vision of the future and create
the conditions which enable the water sector
and water users to prepare for it;
Deliver benefits across society through an
ambitious agenda for improving water
quality, working with local communities to
make early improvements in the health of
our rivers by reducing pollution and tackling
unsustainable abstraction;
Keep short and longer term affordability for
No targets or indicators. Should support the wise
use of water, and
improvement of water
quality.
Include SEA objectives
that relate to water quality
and quantity.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 89 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
customers at the centre of decision making
in the water sector;
Protect the interests of taxpayers in the
policy decisions that we take;
Ensure a stable framework for the water
sector which remains attractive to investors;
Stimulate cultural change in the water sector
by removing barriers to competition,
fostering innovation and efficiency, and
encouraging new entrants to the market to
help improve the range and quality of
services offered to customers and cut
business costs;
Work with water companies, regulators and
other stakeholders to build understanding of
the impact personal choices have on the
water environment, water resources and
costs; and
Set out roles and responsibilities – including
where Government will take a stronger role
in strategic direction setting and assessing
resilience to future challenges, as well as
clear expectations on the regulators.
The Future of Transport
White Paper 2004: A
network for 2030
Ensure we can benefit from mobility and
access while minimising the impact on other
people and the environment, now and in the
future.
Get the best out of our transport system
without damaging our overall quality of life.
Develop strategies that recognise that demand
20% reduction in carbon
dioxide emissions by 2010
and 60% reduction by 2050.
Transport is currently
responsible for about a
quarter of total emissions.
Minimise impact on the
environment and
promote public
transport use rather
than increasing reliance
on the car.
Include SEA objectives to
reduce the need to travel
and improve choice and
use of sustainable
transport modes.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 90 September 2015
Strategy / Plan /
Programme
Key objectives relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Key targets and indicators
relevant to ELAS SPD and
SEA
Implications for the
ELAS SPD
Implications for SEA
for travel will increase in the future.
Work towards a transport network that can
meet the challenges of a growing economy and
the increasing demand for travel but can also
achieve the government’s environmental
objectives.
Rural White Paper
2000, Our Countryside:
The Future – a fair deal
for rural England
Facilitate the development of dynamic,
competitive and sustainable economies in the
countryside.
Maintain and stimulate communities and
secure access to services for those who live
and work in the countryside.
Conserve and enhance rural landscapes.
Increase opportunities for people to get
enjoyment from the countryside.
No targets or indicators.
Allocate sites that will
increase employment
and services in the
rural parts of the
Borough whilst
conserving the
landscape.
Include sustainability
objectives that aim to
improve the economies of
rural areas with minimal
impact to the
environment.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 91 September 2015
Appendix 4
SEA Matrices for the ELAS
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 92 September 2015
ELAS160 Eleanor Cross Road, Waltham Cross
ELAS160 Eleanor Cross Road, Waltham Cross
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS160 --? -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed --? 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air --? -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from international and national conservation designations, and more than
1km from local nature conservation designations; therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
not expected to affect biodiversity in general. However, the ELAS is within 10km downwind of Lee Valley
SPA and Ramsar site - those designated sites are approximately 750m to the north and north east of the
ELAS. Therefore, if a thermal treatment facility were to be developed on the ELAS there would be potential
for significant negative effects on the Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar site due to air pollution; however this is
uncertain as would need to be modelled based on specific facility proposals. In addition, due to its
proximity to the A10, should any waste facility be developed within this ELAS there is potential for waste
vehicles to travel along the A10, which may give rise to increases in air pollution. The Habitats Regulations
Assessment Report for the Waste Site Allocations DPD found that there was potential for in combination
effects on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air pollution arising from waste vehicle movements
along the A10 if more than four allocated sites within the eastern half of the County were to be developed
at the same time. Therefore, there is potential for a significant negative effect on Wormley Hoddesdonpark
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures
should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on
employment land do not adversely affect adjacent
wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
Waste Brief for ELAS160 in the SPD: The Transport Assessment should include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 93 September 2015
Woods SAC due to air emissions from waste vehicles on the A10, but only if this ELAS were to be developed
for waste use at the same time as other ELASs in proximity to the A10 or the three Allocated Sites in the
eastern part of the County (AS019, AS025, AS238). The potential for effects on habitats and species not
designated as SAC, SPA or Ramsar and more than 500m from the EL would need to be determined at the
planning application stage.
the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
In addition, the Waste Site Allocations DPD states that
waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in
the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure
that air pollution effects from waste transported to and
from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine
to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Lee Valley SPA/Ramsar site if a thermal treatment facility proposal comes forward on this ELAS, it is recommended that the Waste Brief for ELAS160 in the SPD also includes a requirement to include an
air quality assessment of the potential for air pollution from the thermal treatment facility to affect the Lee Valley SPA/Ramsar site.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. A small area of the ELAS to
the east of Britannia Road is located in Source Protection Zone 1, which is more vulnerable to
groundwater pollution, but only if landfill or open air facilities were to be developed. The development
brief for this ELAS specifies that only enclosed waste transfer stations and material recovery facilities that
handle dry recyclables or enclosed inert waste recycling facilities would be acceptable on the east side of
Britannia Road; therefore there should be no effect on groundwater quality. However, a larger area of the
ELAS to the west of Britannia road is located in Source Protection Zone 2. As the ELAS is predominantly
located in Source Protection Zone 2, facilities for open-air processes for waste management (which would
be allowed to the west of Britannia Road) could have a minor negative effect on the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
A detailed design for the management of surface water
and proposals to install an impermeable sealed
drainage scheme would be required for ELAS located in
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 94 September 2015
Source Protection Zone 2.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of a Scheduled Monument, Area of Archaeological Significance, Regional Park
and Country Park but is more than 1km from the nearest Registered Park and Garden or Conservation
Area. The ELAS lies within Lea Valley, which has been shown to contain archaeological and environmental
deposits that date to the Mesolithic period. The development of any type of waste management facility on
the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain and will depend to a large extent on the type of facility proposed and
its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk-based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS160 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The West Anglia mainline railway runs along the western boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is
more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 95 September 2015
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS160 in the SPD: The Transport
Assessment should include an assessment of the
potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect
the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
In addition, the Waste Site Allocations DPD states that
waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in
the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure
that air pollution effects from waste transported to and
from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine
to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
2b. The ELAS predominantly contains general industry, storage and distribution uses and could therefore
have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route, as the south of the site borders the M25. It is considered
likely that the development of this site will increase transportation by road to some extent, therefore
increasing greenhouse gas emissions and a minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS160 in the SPD: The Transport Assessment should include an assessment of the
potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC . In addition, the Waste Site Allocations DPD states that
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 96 September 2015
waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly safeguard soil quality and minimise the loss of best and most versatile agricultural
land as the development of new waste management facilities in this location could reduce the need for
landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the ELAS for any type
of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on safeguarding soil
quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS have potential to accommodate Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore
there may be potential for contamination from hazardous waste although this is considered unlikely as
facilities would be enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe
treatment of hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect is therefore identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area on previously developed land and is
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral
has already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types (except landfill, which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of Lee Valley Country Park. Therefore the ELAS
could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and
access to the countryside by making the Lee Valley Country Park less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 97 September 2015
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is adjacent to other employment uses to the north and east and is within 250m of 609
households. A school is located 100m to the east, and the ELAS is also within 500m of Lee Valley Country
Park. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect
on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have
a significant negative effect on amenity because all development would result in some level of noise,
traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc.).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 98 September 2015
ELAS161 Essex Road/Pindar Road
ELAS161 Essex Road/Pindar Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS161 --? 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed --? 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air --? 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d,
7a, and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant ELAS
Waste Brief?
1a. Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar site and Rye Meads SSSI are all located 300m to the north and north east
of the ELAS. Admirals Walk Lake Local Wildlife Site is within 400m to the southwest of the site. The New
River, which lies immediately adjacent to the site to the west, also supports a Biodiversity Action Plan
aquatic plant species (River Water-dropwort). Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
likely to have minor negative effects on biodiversity in general. However, as the ELAS is within 10km
downwind of Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar site, if a thermal treatment facility were to be developed on the
ELAS there would be the potential for significant negative effects on the Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar site
due to air pollution. However, this is uncertain as would need to be modelled based on specific facility
proposals. In addition, due to its proximity to the A10, should any waste facility be developed within this
ELAS there is potential for waste vehicles to travel along the A10, which may give rise to increases in air
pollution. The Habitats Regulations Assessment Report for the Waste Site Allocations DPD found that
there was potential for in combination effects on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air pollution
arising from waste vehicle movements along the A10 if more than four allocated sites within the eastern
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are avoided,
minimised or adequately compensated for (where this is
appropriate) before proposals for waste management
facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should
be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment
land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or
European sites within 10km.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 99 September 2015
half of the County were to be developed at the same time. Therefore, there is potential for a significant
negative effect on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC due to air emissions from waste vehicles on the
A10, but only if this ELAS were to be developed for waste use at the same time as other ELASs in
proximity to the A10 or the three Allocated Sites in the eastern part of the County (AS019, AS025,
AS238). The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as SAC, SPA or Ramsar and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Lee Valley
SPA/Ramsar site if a thermal treatment facility proposal
comes forward on this ELAS, it is recommended that the
Waste Brief for ELAS161 in the SPD also includes a
requirement to include an air quality assessment of
the potential for air pollution from the thermal
treatment facility to affect the Lee Valley SPA/Ramsar
site.
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility be
developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that the Waste Brief for ELAS161 in the SPD also includes a requirement for transport assessments to include an
assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
These recommendations have been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water,
geology and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is
mostly situated in Source Protection Zone 1, which is more vulnerable to groundwater pollution, but only
if landfill or open air facilities were to be developed. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that
only enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along
with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, would be acceptable. No other potential uses that may
generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a risk to groundwater resources would be appropriate.
Therefore no effects would be expected on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for before
proposals for waste management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would be
required for ELAS that are located in Source Protection
Zone 1, which should address any contamination concerns.
The assessment should also pay particular attention to
noise, dust and odour generation and the impact (and
mitigation) of the development on the surrounding
environment. Further operations on the site may require
mitigation against groundwater pollution.
A detailed design for the management of surface water
and proposals to install an impermeable sealed drainage
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 100 September 2015
scheme would be required for ELAS located in Source
Protection Zone 2.
1c. The ELAS is within 300m of a Scheduled Monument (Rye House moated gate house and enclosure),
and is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance, Conservation Area and a Regional Park. The
ELAS lies within the Lea Valley, which has been shown to contain archaeological and environmental
deposits that date to the Mesolithic period. The development of any type of waste management facilities
on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed and
its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape
or townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for before
proposals for waste management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based archaeological
impact assessment would be required to confirm any
archaeological remains on the ELAS that has been identified
as having archaeological significance. This should also
assess both past impacts upon the site and previous
archaeological investigations of the area and to model the
current archaeological potential of the site. .
Waste Brief for ELAS161 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be required
at the planning application stage.
2a. The West Anglia mainline railway runs along the site’s eastern and south-eastern boundary. However,
the ELAS is only within 1km of an existing rail aggregates depot and so development for any type of waste
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set out
in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 101 September 2015
proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS161 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
2b. The ELAS predominantly contains general industry, storage and distribution uses and currently has a
Household Waste Recycling Centre operating within it, and could therefore have a significant positive
effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 1km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site
will increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set out
in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where
an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 102 September 2015
air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport travelling
to and from this ELAS should any waste facility be
developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that the
Waste Brief for ELAS161 in the SPD also includes a
requirement for transport assessments to include an
assessment of the potential for air pollution from
waste transport to affect the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly safeguard soil quality and minimise the loss of best and most versatile agricultural
land as the development of new waste management facilities in this location could reduce the need for
landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the site for any type of
waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on safeguarding soil
quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS have the potential to accommodate Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore
there may be potential for contamination from hazardous waste, although this is considered unlikely as
facilities would be enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe
treatment of hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect is therefore identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard the
best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and is
therefore considered likely to have a negligible effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the
mineral has already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types (except landfill, which is not permitted with the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at
the planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill is
a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any of the ELAS could
have a significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment.
All types of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect
Not needed.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 103 September 2015
on increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of Lee Valley Country Park, and Public Footpath
Numbers 53 and 54 run along the western boundary. Therefore the ELAs could have a minor negative
effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by
making the Lee Valley Country Park and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is adjacent to other employment uses to the south and east, and is within 250m of 1,028
households and four sensitive land uses, including a school. The ELAS is also within 500m of Lee Valley
Country Park. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor
negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities
such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous
waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility
could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some
level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well.
However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation
measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed
that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any
potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in the
Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to protect
the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within an
employment land area. Where practicable, potential waste
facilities should be enclosed in a building to ensure that
surrounding uses are not adversely affected by noise, dust
and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated to
ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely
affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed assessment
could be required. Waste management development should
therefore be compatible with adjacent uses on the
employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 104 September 2015
ELAS006 Maylands (east and west)
ELAS006 Maylands (east and west)
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
ELAS006 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
Site - -/0/- --? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- --? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 1km from the nearest international and national conservation designations but is
adjacent to Maylands Wood and Widmore Wood Local Wildlife Sites and is within 400m of the Nickey Line
Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have minor negative
effects on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an
SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning
application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The majority of the ELAS is
located within Source Protection Zone 3, the remaining areas of the ELAS are situated outside of a Source
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 105 September 2015
Protection Zone. As the ELAS is predominantly located in Source Protection Zone 3, facilities for open-air
processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater
sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
A normal risk based approach will be applied with all
waste related planning applications on Employment Land
Areas of Search that are not located in a groundwater
Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS006 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
mostly located within Source Protection Zone 3,
additional mitigation measures may be required to
prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 100m of one Scheduled Monument (a Romano-Celtic temple complex) and is within
200m of another (the High Street Green Roman Barrow). The ELAS is also situated within the Wood End
Lane Area of Archaeological Significance, is within 200m of the Queensway Area of Archaeological
Significance, and is located 450m to the east of the Little Farmhouse Barn, which is a Grade II listed
building. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a
significant negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of a listed building, the
effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed building. Impacts on
the setting of the building will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the
characteristics and location of the listed building. The development of some types of waste management
facility on this ELAS could also have a negative effect on the setting of these assets, particularly the Romano-
Celtic temple complex Scheduled Monument and the Wood End Lane Area of Archaeological Significance.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS006 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 106 September 2015
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS006 in the SPD: No fundamental
traffic/transport issues have been identified for this ELAS.
Wood Llane End junction with Maylands Avenue is the
main junction within the area and suffers congestion
during peak hours. As a result of further development in
the area capacity improvements are likely to be required.
There is a proposal for a new Hemel Hempstead North
East Relief Road (now called the Maylands Growth
Corridor). Funding may be sought through the borough
council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and by other
external sources.
2b. The ELAS predominantly is an established employment area containing a variety of uses, located on the
east of Hemel Hempstead. A waste transfer station currently operates from land at Maxted Close. The ELAS
predominantly contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and forms part of the Maylands Masterplan development area.
Therefore the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 107 September 2015
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS006 in the SPD: No fundamental traffic/transport issues have been identified for this ELAS. Wood Llane End junction with Maylands Avenue is the main junction within the area and suffers congestion
during peak hours. As a result of further development in the area capacity improvements are likely to be required.
There is a proposal for a new Hemel Hempstead North East Relief Road (now called the Maylands Growth Corridor). Funding may be sought through the borough council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and by other external sources.
4c. Grade 2 and Grade 3 Agricultural Land cover less than 50% of the ELAS; therefore the development of
the site for any type of waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on minimising the loss
of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste although this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect is therefore identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and is
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types (except landfill, which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 108 September 2015
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of access land, open space and recreational
facilities, including Coppinsfield Sports Ground and includes footpath number 52 which runs north-south
through the eastern part of the ELAS. Footpath numbers 50 and 51 are also within 500m of the ELAS.
Therefore the ELAS could have a significant negative effect on the protection and enhancement of
recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making the public rights of way less attractive
for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is adjacent to other employment uses to the north and housing is located within 250m to the
south and west. Coppinsfield sports ground is also located within 250m to the south of the ELAS. The
development brief for this ELAS specifies that the southern part of ELAS006 Maylands (west) is adjacent to
the ‘Heart of Maylands’ development area, which is identified as being suitable to be the functional centre
and local hub for the Maylands Business Park, as defined in Dacorum Borough Council’s Heart of Maylands
Development Brief (October 2010). A new local centre is being established in the Heart of Maylands, with a
range of uses including retail, offices and housing. Planning permission has been granted for phase 1 of the
development. Therefore, any proposed waste management development located within the southern part of
ELAS006 Maylands (west) should take into account this proposed development. Therefore, proposals for all
types of facility could have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and
air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Waste Brief for ELAS006 in the SPD: Proposed waste management development located within the southern part of ELAS006 Maylands (west) should take into
account the proposed Heart of Maylands development
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 109 September 2015
area as identified in the borough council’s Heart of Maylands Development Brief (October 2010)
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 110 September 2015
ELAS007 Swallowdale
ELAS007 Swallowdale
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS007 - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 1km from the nearest international, national conservation designations but is
adjacent to Widmore Wood and the Disused Railway Line Local Wildlife Sites and therefore development of
a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in general. The
potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than
500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3 and therefore facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 111 September 2015
a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS007 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
located within Source Protection Zone 3, additional mitigation measures may be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is adjacent to an Area of Archaeological Significance which contains a Scheduled Monument
(a Bronze Age or Romano-British burial ground). Late Iron Age and Roman archaeological remains have
also been recorded nearby. The ELAS is also within 200m of the Grade II listed Corner Farmhouse and
within 200m of another Scheduled Monument (the High Street Green Roman Barrow). The development of
any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these
heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the
potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will
depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location
of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain and will depend to a large extent on the type of facility proposed and
its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all of the ELAS
are within existing industrial estates and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on
landscape or townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS007 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Wood Llane End junction with Maylands Avenue is the main junction within the area and suffers congestion during peak hours. As a result of further development in the area capacity improvements are likely to be
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 112 September 2015
required.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS007 in the SPD: Wood Llane End junction with Maylands Avenue is the main junction within the area and suffers congestion during peak hours. As a result of further development in the area capacity improvements are likely to be required. There is a proposal for a new Hemel Hempstead North East
Relief Road (now called the Maylands Growth Corridor). Funding may be sought through the borough council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and by other external sources.
2b. The ELAS is predominantly an established employment area containing a variety of uses, located on the
east of Hemel Hempstead. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site
although a district council depot and a Household Waste Recycling Centre are adjacent to the site. The
ELAS predominantly contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and forms part of the Maylands Masterplan development
area. The ELAS is currently identified as a General Employment Area in the adopted Dacorum Local Plan.
Therefore the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Wood Lane End junction with Maylands Avenue is the main junction within the area and suffers congestion during peak hours. As a result of further development in the area capacity improvements are likely to be required.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS007 in the SPD: Wood Llane End
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 113 September 2015
junction with Maylands Avenue is the main junction within the area and suffers congestion during peak hours. As a result of further development in the area capacity improvements are likely to be required. There is a proposal for a new Hemel Hempstead North East Relief Road (now called the Maylands Growth Corridor).
Funding may be sought through the borough council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and by other external sources.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly safeguard soil quality and minimise the loss of best and most versatile agricultural
land as the development of new waste management facilities in this location could reduce the need for
landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the site for any type of
waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on safeguarding soil quality
and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS have the potential to accommodate Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore
there may be potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as
facilities would be enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe
treatment of hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect is therefore identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have a negligible effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types (except landfill, which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the northern boundary is adjacent to the Nickey Line (a public
right of way) and is within 500m of the Grovehill/Woodhall Farm Adventure Playground. The ELAS is also
adjacent to Yewtree Wood, Widmore Wood and Cupid Green. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 114 September 2015
negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the
countryside by making these nearby features less attractive for users.
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 200 households and a school, which lies to the west of the ELAS. The
ELAS is also adjacent to other employment uses to the north and south. The development brief for this
ELAS specifies that planning permission has been granted for a change of use from offices to residential,
with further new residential development proposed at Viking House, adjacent to the Swallowdale Lane/High
Street Green/Queensway/Redbourn Road roundabout. The Core Strategy identifies land to the north and
west of ELAS007 as an area of residential opportunity. Therefore, proposed waste management
development located within the ELAS should take into account these proposed residential developments.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have
a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise,
traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc). Waste Brief for ELAS007 in the SPD: The development brief for this ELAS specifies that planning permission has been granted for a change of use from
offices to residential, with further new residential development proposed at Viking House, adjacent to the Swallowdale Lane/High Street Green/Queensway/Redbourn Road roundabout.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 115 September 2015
Therefore, proposed waste management development located within the ELAS should take into account this proposed residential development
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 116 September 2015
ELAS168 Buncefield
ELAS168 Buncefield
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS168 0 -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed 0 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
0 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air 0 -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The site is more than 1km from the nearest international, national and local conservation designations
and therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have no effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 117 September 2015
Source Protection Zone 3 and therefore facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have
a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
A normal risk based approach will be applied with all
waste related planning applications on Employment Land
Areas of Search that are not located in a groundwater
Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS168 in the SPD: As the ELAS is located within groundwater Source Protection Zone 3, additional mitigation measures may be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of a Scheduled Monument and an Area of Archaeological Significance and is
within 450m of the Grade II listed Breakspears to the northwest. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
As the ELAS is within 500m of a listed building the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative
impact on the setting of the listed building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on the
precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed
building.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain and will depend to a large extent on the type of facility proposed and
its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS168 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 118 September 2015
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that there are some significant traffic issues associated with
Boundary Way and Buncefield Way along with ELAS006 and ELAS007. There is a long term aspiration in the
Local Transport Plan 3 and the emerging Dacorum Local Plan for any significant development that takes
place in this area to contribute towards the Hemel Hempstead North East Relief Road.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS168 in the SPD: There is a long
term aspiration in LTP3 and the Dacorum emerging Local
Plan for any significant development that takes place in
this area to contribute towards the Hemel Hempstead
North East Relief Road now called the Maylands Growth
Corridor). Funding may be sought through the borough
council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and by other
external sources.
2b. The ELAS is predominantly an established employment area located on the edge of Hemel Hempstead,
which also contains an oil storage depot. There are currently no waste management facilities operating
within the site. The ELAS mainly contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is currently identified as a General
Employment Area in the adopted Dacorum Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive
effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that there are some significant traffic issues associated with
Boundary Way and Buncefield Way along with ELAS006 and ELAS007. There is a long term aspiration in the
Local Transport Plan 3 and the emerging Dacorum Local Plan for any significant development that takes
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 119 September 2015
place in this area to contribute towards the Hemel Hempstead North East Relief Road.
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS168 in the SPD: There is a long term aspiration in LTP3 and the Dacorum emerging Local Plan for any significant development that takes place in this area to contribute towards the Hemel Hempstead North East Relief Road now called the Maylands Growth Corridor). Funding may be sought through the borough
council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and by other external sources.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly safeguard soil quality and minimise the loss of best and most versatile agricultural
land as the development of new waste management facilities in this location could reduce the need for
landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the site for any type of
waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on safeguarding soil quality
and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS have the potential to accommodate Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore
there may be potential for contamination from hazardous waste although this is considered unlikely as
facilities would be enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe
treatment of hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect is therefore identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and is
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types (except landfill, which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of access land, open space and recreational
facilities, including Coppinsfield Sports Ground and Woodwells Caravan Park. There are no public rights of
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 120 September 2015
way through the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making nearby leisure
facilities less attractive for users.
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is adjacent to other employment uses to the west and is within 250m of nine households as
well as Coppinsfield Sports Ground and Woodwells Caravan Park. Therefore, proposals for all types of
facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of
biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing
energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity,
because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction
and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of
facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning
application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures
implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 121 September 2015
ELAS164 Icknield Way
ELAS164 Icknield Way
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS164 - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is within 150m of Miswell House Area Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on
this ELAS is likely to have minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would
need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 122 September 2015
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS164 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 250m of Miswell House Area of Archaeological Significance to the south and is located
approximately 300m to the southwest of The Barn and Windmill Grade II listed building. The ELAS is also
within 1km of a Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS
could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of a
listed building the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed
building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on the precise location, design and facility
proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed building.
The extent to which waste development within the ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS164 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 123 September 2015
increasing the efficient use of rail. transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located on the edge of Tring. There are currently no waste
management facilities operating within the site, which predominantly contains B1, B2 and B8 uses. The
ELAS is currently identified as a General Employment Area in the adopted Dacorum Local Plan. Therefore,
the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the Pre-Submission version of the Dacorum Site
Allocations Development Plan Document (September 2014) proposes that the Icknield Way General
Employment Area be extended by 0.75ha to the south west. However, it is proposed that it is only allocated
for business uses (B1). In accordance with the County Council’s site selection methodology, it would not be
suitable for future waste management development. The Borough Council’s Pre-Submission Site Allocations
document also states that the north eastern part of the existing employment area be removed for housing.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 1km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. Grade 2 and Grade 3 Agricultural Land covers less than 50% of the ELAS; therefore the development of Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 124 September 2015
the ELAS for any type of waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on minimising the
loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect is therefore identified.
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and is
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types (except landfill, which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring that waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy.
However, the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets
proposed at the planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt and more than 500m from open space but public footpath number
48a is adjacent to the site’s south-western boundary. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect
on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making
the public right of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 400 households to the south and a school to the southeast. The
development brief for this ELAS notes that the Pre-Submission version of the Dacorum Site Allocations
Development Plan Document (September 2014) proposes that the Icknield Way General Employment Area be
extended by 0.75ha to the south west. However, it is proposed that it is only allocated for business uses
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 125 September 2015
(B1). In accordance with the County Council’s site selection methodology, it would not be suitable for future
waste management development. The Borough Council’s Pre-Submission Site Allocations document also
states that the north eastern part of the existing employment area should be removed for housing.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting,
anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 126 September 2015
ELAS167 Northbridge Road
ELAS167 Northbridge Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS167 - -/-/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/-/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/-/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/-/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation
designations. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a
negligible effect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not
designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined
at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is predominantly
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 127 September 2015
located within Source Protection Zone 3 and therefore facilities for open-air processes for waste
management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources. However,
land on the eastern edge of the ELAS is located in Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than
enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination
of groundwater.
The ELAS is within 1km of a RIGGS so is likely to have a minor negative effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2 and Source
Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS167 in the SPD: As ELAS167 is
located in Source Protection Zone 3 and Source
Protection Zone 2, additional mitigation measures will be
required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. Part of the ELAS is an Area of Archaeological Significance and the site is also within 150m to the north
of the Grade II* listed Edgeworth House and within 200m-300m of a number of Grade II listed buildings
that are situated along the A4251 (High Street). The ELAS is also within 200m of the Northchurch
Conservation area and 500m of Berkhamsted Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a significant negative effect on these heritage
assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential
negative impact on the setting of the listed building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on
the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed
building. The development of some types of waste management facility on this ELAS could also have a
negative effect on the setting of these assets, including the Area of Archaeological Significance.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS167 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The West Coast mainline railway runs along the north-eastern boundary of the ELAS. However, the
ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 128 September 2015
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail. transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located in the centre of Berkhamsted. A Household Waste
Recycling Centre is located within the ELAS. The ELAS predominantly contains B1, B2 and B8 uses, and is
currently identified as a General Employment Area in the adopted Dacorum Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS
could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly safeguard soil quality and minimise the loss of best and most versatile agricultural
land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could reduce the need for
landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the site for any type of
waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on safeguarding soil quality
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 129 September 2015
and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types (except landfill, which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt and more than 500m from open space but is adjacent to the Grand
Union Canal and within 250m of Berkhamsted Sports Centre to the south. Therefore the ELAS could have a
minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the
countryside by making these recreational facilities less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 1,000 households, it is adjacent to the Grand Union Canal and
Westfield School is situated within 250m to the southwest. The ELAS is also within 250m of places of
worship and Berkhamsted Sports Centre. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the
potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 130 September 2015
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 131 September 2015
ELAS169 River Park
ELAS169 River Park
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS169 0 -/-/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed 0 0/-/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
0 0/-/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air 0 -/-/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation
designations. Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a negligible
effect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an
SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning
application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 132 September 2015
facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater sources. Therefore, facilities for
open-air processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is within 1km of a RIGGS so is likely to have a minor negative effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS169 in the SPD: Potential uses
other than enclosed waste transfer stations and
materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables,
along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will
require additional mitigation measures to prevent
contamination of groundwater sources
1c. The ELAS is within an Area of Archaeological Significance, the site is also within 150m to the northeast
of the Grade II* listed Edgeworth House, and within 200m-300m of a number of Grade II listed buildings
that are situated along the A4251 (High Street). The ELAS is also within 200m of Berkhamsted
Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could
therefore have a significant negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed
buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed
buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility
proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings. The development of some
types of waste management facility on this ELAS could also have a negative effect on the setting of these
assets, including the Area of Archaeological Significance.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain and will depend to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and
its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS169 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The West Coast mainline railway runs along the north-eastern boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 133 September 2015
increasing the efficient use of rail. transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located in the centre of Berkhamsted. The ELAS
predominantly contains B1, B2 and B8 uses, and is currently identified as a General Employment Area in the
adopted Dacorum Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient
use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 134 September 2015
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste although this is considered unlikely as facilities would
be enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect is therefore identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types (except landfill, which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt and more than 500m from open space but is adjacent to the Grand
Union Canal and within 250m of Berkhamsted Sports Centre to the south. Therefore the ELAS could have a
minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the
countryside by making these recreational facilities less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of approximately 700 households, it is adjacent to the Grand Union Canal,
and Westfield School is situated within 500m to the southwest of the ELAS. The ELAS is also within 250m
of places of worship and Berkhamsted Sports Centre. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could
have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and
air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from
waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities.
Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 135 September 2015
development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and
potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its
design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application
stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented
should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 136 September 2015
ELAS174 Two Waters (East of A414)
ELAS174 Two Waters (East of A414)
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS174 - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is situated to the south of Two Waters Apsley Durant Hill Cress Beds Local Wildlife Sites and
is within 1km of Roughdown Common SSSI. Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and
species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be
determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent
wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. The ELAS is located within Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 137 September 2015
stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste
recycling facilities, will require additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater
sources. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a minor negative
effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS177 in the SPD: Potential uses
other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination
of groundwater sources.
1c. The ELAS is within 150m of the Bell Inn grade II listed building (now a McDonald’s restaurant), and
within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance. The development of any type of waste management
facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is
within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the
setting of the listed building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on the precise location,
design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed building.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS174 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 138 September 2015
2a. The West Coast mainline railway runs along the southern boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is
more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that no fundamental traffic/transport issues have been identified with the ELAS. However, the junction at London Road with Two Waters Road suffers from significant congestion during peak Hours.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS174 in the SPD: Due to the
junction at London Road with Two Waters Road suffering
from significant congestion during peak Hours; further
demand as a result of future development in the area will
require capacity improvements.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located in Two Waters, Hemel Hempstead, predominantly
containing B2 and B8 uses. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site.
The ELAS is currently identified as a General Employment Area in the adopted Dacorum Local Plan.
Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 100m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site
will increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that no fundamental traffic/transport issues have been
identified with the ELAS. However, the junction at London Road with Two Waters Road suffers from
significant congestion during peak Hours.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 139 September 2015
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS174 in the SPD: Due to the
junction at London Road with Two Waters Road suffering
from significant congestion during peak Hours; further
demand as a result of future development in the area will
require capacity improvements.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of Harrison’s Moor/Boxmoor Common and the
Grand Union Canal to the north of the site. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the
protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these
recreational facilities and open space less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 140 September 2015
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 300 households, adjacent to further employment uses, and within
250m of other sensitive land uses. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to
have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from
certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling
of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of
waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would
result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation
as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential
mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is
assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to
avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure
centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 141 September 2015
ELAS175 Two Waters (West of A414)
ELAS175 Two Waters (West of A414)
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS175 - -/-/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/-/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/-/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/-/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is within 250m of Roughdown Common SSSI and is situated to the south Harrison’s
Moor/Boxmoor Common Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
assumed likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site
would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. The ELAS is located within Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer
stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste
recycling facilities, will require additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 142 September 2015
sources. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a minor negative
effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is within 1km of a RIGGS so is likely to have a minor negative effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS175 in the SPD: Potential uses
other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination
of groundwater sources.
1c. The ELAS is within 400m of three Grade II listed buildings located in London Road, and is within 500 of
an Area of Archaeological Significance. The development of any type of waste management facility on the
ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m
of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the
listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and
facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS175 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The West Coast mainline railway runs along the southern boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is
more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 143 September 2015
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that no fundamental traffic/transport issues have been identified with the ELAS. However, the junction at London Road with Two Waters Road suffers from significant congestion during peak Hours.
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS175 in the SPD: Due to the
junction at London Road with Two Waters Road suffering
from significant congestion during peak Hours; further
demand as a result of future development in the area will
require capacity improvements.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located in Two Waters, Hemel Hempstead, predominantly
containing B2 and B8 uses. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site.
The ELAS is currently identified as a General Employment Area in the adopted Dacorum Local Plan.
Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 100m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site
will increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that no fundamental traffic/transport issues have been
identified with the ELAS. However, the junction at London Road with Two Waters Road suffers from
significant congestion during peak Hours.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS175 in the SPD: Due to the
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 144 September 2015
junction at London Road with Two Waters Road suffering
from significant congestion during peak Hours; further
demand as a result of future development in the area will
require capacity improvements.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste although this is considered unlikely as facilities would
be enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 100m of Harrison’s Moor/Boxmoor Common and within
500m of the Grand Union Canal to the north of the site. Public footpath number 76 also runs along the
western boundary of the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection
and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these
recreational facilities and open space less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 145 September 2015
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of approximately 130 households and within 100m of Harrison’s
Moor/Boxmoor Common. The ELAS is also within 250m of other sensitive land uses and is adjacent to
further employment uses, including a gas works to the west. The development brief for this ELAS notes
that the Dacorum Borough Local Plan 1991-2011 proposes housing on the western part of the gas works
site. National Grid now intends to vacate the site (except for about 0.1ha), so the Pre-Submission version
of the Site Allocations Development Plan Document proposes that the whole site be allocated for housing
development. A mixed use development including 208 flats has been approved adjacent to the ELAS.
Therefore, proposed waste management development located within the ELAS should take this and future
housing development to the west of the ELAS into account. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility
could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores
and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from
waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities.
Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all
development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and
potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its
design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application
stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented
should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure
centres etc). Waste Brief for ELAS175 in the SPD: Proposed waste management development located within the ELAS should take this and future housing development to the
west of the ELAS into account.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 146 September 2015
ELAS186 Park Farm Industrial Estate
ELAS186 Park Farm Industrial Estate
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS186 --? -/-/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed --? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is within 200m to the northwest of Porters Close Local Wildlife Site. The ELAS does,
however, contain a locally significant area of woodland, scrub, rough grassland and trees, which should be
compensated for if affected by any development. Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
assumed likely to have a significant negative affect on biodiversity in general. Due to its proximity to the
A10, should any waste facility be developed within this ELAS, there is potential for waste vehicles to travel
along the A10 which may give rise to increases in air pollution. The Habitats Regulations Assessment
Report for the Waste Site Allocations DPD found that there was potential for in combination effects on
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air pollution arising from waste vehicle movements along the
A10 if more than four allocated sites within the eastern half of the County were to be developed at the
same time. Therefore, there is potential for a significant negative effect on Wormley Hoddesdonpark
Woods SAC due to air emissions from waste vehicles on the A10, but only if this ELAS were to be developed
for waste use at the same time as other ELASs in proximity to the A10 or the three Allocated Sites in the
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
Waste Brief for ELAS186 in the SPD: The locally significant area of woodland, scrub, rough grassland and trees, should be compensated for if affected by any development.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 147 September 2015
eastern part of the County (AS019, AS025, AS238). The potential for effects on habitats and species not
designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined
at the planning application stage.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine
to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS186 in the SPD also includes a requirement for transport assessments to include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS186 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
located within Source Protection Zone 3, additional
mitigation measures may be required to prevent
contamination to groundwater.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 148 September 2015
1c. The ELAS is within 200m of an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 500m of a Conservation
Area. A number of Grade II listed buildings are also within 500m, located along the High Street to the
south of the ELAS. The ELAS is also within 200m to the north of the Buntingford Conservation Area. The
development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on
these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise
the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings
will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and
location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS186 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS186 in the SPD: A Transport
Assessment will be required at the planning application
stage to assess the impact and mitigating measures
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 149 September 2015
along High Street/Baldock Road, Buntingford.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS186 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
2b. The ELAS is an established industrial estate located to the north of Buntingford. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within the site. The site predominantly contains B2 and B8 uses,
and is currently identified as an employment area (BUN6) in the adopted East Herts Local Plan. Therefore,
the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site
will increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 150 September 2015
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS186 in the SPD: A Transport
Assessment will be required at the planning application
stage to assess the impact and mitigating measures
along High Street/Baldock Road, Buntingford.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the
eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS186 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
4c. Grade 2 and Grade 3 Agricultural Land cover less than 50% of the ELAS, the development of the site
for any type of waste management facility is considered to have the potential to have a minor negative
effect on minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 151 September 2015
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 27 runs along the western boundary of
the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of
recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making the public right of way less attractive
for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of 170 households and is adjacent to Freman College to the west. The
development brief for this ELAS also specifies that planning permission has recently been granted for
further housing immediately to the east and north of the ELAS. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility
could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores
and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from
waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities.
Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all
development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and
potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its
design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application
stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented
should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 152 September 2015
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 153 September 2015
ELAS187 Former Sunnyside Nursery and the Site Adjoining
ELAS186 Former Sunnyside Nursery and the Site Adjoining
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS187 --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed --? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international, national and local nature conservation
designations although it is noted that the ELAS contains areas of open rough ground which may be of local
ecological value and have protected species interest. Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS
is assumed likely to have a significant negative affect on biodiversity in general. Due to its proximity to the
A10, should any waste facility be developed within this ELAS there is potential for waste vehicles to travel
along the A10 which may give rise to increases in air pollution. The Habitats Regulations Assessment Report
for the Waste Site Allocations DPD found that there was potential for in combination effects on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air pollution arising from waste vehicle movements along the A10 if more
than four allocated sites within the eastern half of the County were to be developed at the same time.
Therefore, there is potential for a significant negative effect on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC due to
air emissions from waste vehicles on the A10, but only if this ELAS were to be developed for waste use at the
same time as other ELASs in proximity to the A10 or the three Allocated Sites in the eastern part of the
County (AS019, AS025, AS238). The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC,
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
Waste Brief for ELAS187 in the SPD: The Transport Assessment should include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 154 September 2015
SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning
application stage.
In addition, the Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine
to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources. However, the ELAS is also located on, or
within 50m of a private water supply and should be treated as though it were in Source Protection Zone 1.
Source Protection Zone 1 is more vulnerable to groundwater pollution, but only if landfill or open air facilities
were to be developed which is not supported in Source Protection Zone 1 by the ELAS Waste Brief; therefore
there should be no effect on groundwater quality.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
A detailed design for the management of surface water
and proposals to install an impermeable sealed drainage
scheme would be required for ELAS located in Source
Protection Zone 3.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 155 September 2015
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance and is located within 100m of How
Green Farmhouse Grade II listed building. Historic environment records have also indicated the uncovering of
Iron Age ditches and pitches. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could
therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed
buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed
buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility
proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS187 in the SPD: The
Archaeological Desk Based Assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS187 in the SPD: Any further
development on this existing industrial site should
minimise impact on the A507 and the B1038 east of
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 156 September 2015
Buntingford by a routing agreement to keep traffic onto
the A10.
Waste Brief for ELAS187 in the SPD: The Transport
Assessment should include an assessment of the
potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect
the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
In addition, the Waste Site Allocations DPD states that
waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in
the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure
that air pollution effects from waste transported to and
from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine
to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, adjacent to the A10 and A507. The ELAS contains a
district council depot operated by East Herts Council and predominantly contains B2 and B8 uses. The ELAS
is currently identified as an employment area (BUN4) in the adopted East Herts Local Plan. Although, the site
does contain small areas of undeveloped land, the ELAS is predominantly covered by previously developed
land. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 100m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS187 in the SPD: Any further
development on this existing industrial site should
minimise impact on the A507 and the B1038 east of
Buntingford by a routing agreement to keep traffic onto
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 157 September 2015
the A10.
Waste Brief for ELAS187 in the SPD: The Transport
Assessment should include an assessment of the
potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect
the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
In addition, the Waste Site Allocations DPD states that
waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in
the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure
that air pollution effects from waste transported to and
from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine
to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
4c. Grade 2 Agricultural Land covers less than 50% of the ELAS, the development of the site for any type of
waste management facility is considered to have the potential to have a minor negative effect on minimising
the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste although this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 200m of a public right of way to the north of the site. Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 158 September 2015
Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational
facilities and access to the countryside by making the public right of way less attractive for users.
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of 105 households, predominantly located to the east of the site. Two schools
are also approximately 400m northeast of the site. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have
the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 159 September 2015
ELAS176 Mead Lane Business Centre/Works
ELAS176 Mead Lane Business Centre/Works
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS176 --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed --? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is adjacent to the Kings Meads Local Wildlife Site and the Cromwell Road Allotments Local
Wildlife Site. Protected species (reptiles) may also be present on suitable ground within the Mead Lane area.
Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a significant negative affect on
biodiversity in general. Due to its proximity to the A10, should any waste facility be developed within this
ELAS, there is potential for waste vehicles to travel along the A10, which may give rise to increases in air
pollution. The Habitats Regulations Assessment Report for the Waste Site Allocations DPD found that there
was potential for in combination effects on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air pollution arising
from waste vehicle movements along the A10 if more than four allocated sites within the eastern half of the
County were to be developed at the same time. Therefore, there is potential for a significant negative effect
on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC due to air emissions from waste vehicles on the A10, but only if this
ELAS were to be developed for waste use at the same time as other ELASs in proximity to the A10 or the
three Allocated Sites in the eastern part of the County (AS019, AS025, AS238). The potential for effects on
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 160 September 2015
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would
need to be determined at the planning application stage. from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20). Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that the Waste Brief for ELAS176 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments to include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is mostly situated
outside of Source Protection Zones; however the ELAS does contain areas covered by Source Protection Zone
2. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on
the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
A normal risk based approach will be applied with all
waste related planning applications on Employment Land
Areas of Search that are not located in a groundwater
Source Protection Zone.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 161 September 2015
1c. The ELAs is within 100m of an Area of Archaeological Significance, and within 100m to the north of the
Hertford Conservation Area. The ELAS is also within 200m of a number of Grade II listed buildings located to
the west of the site. The ELAS is adjacent to the Grade II listed former signal box and within 300m to the
northeast of the Grade II listed Hertford East Station. The site is also located within 500m of the Grade I
listed Church of St Leonard and the Grade II* listed Bengeo Hall is situated 600m to the north. The
development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative
effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to
recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the
buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics
and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS176 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The West Anglia mainline railway runs along the southern boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is
more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies further development that increases traffic movements on this
and surrounding areas of land have been resisted given the fact that the whole Mead Lane area is served by a
single point of access, Mill Road on to the wider highway network. The Mead Lane development brief
contained in the Hertford and Ware urban Transport plan identifies various improvements required to Mill
Road/Mead Lane to enable the release of further land to be re-developed. Any proposal on this site must
demonstrate that there will be absolutely no increase in traffic movements when compared to existing uses.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS176 in the SPD: The Mead Lane
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 162 September 2015
development brief contained in the Hertford and Ware
urban Transport plan identifies various improvements
required to Mill Road/Mead Lane to enable the release of
further land to be re-developed. Any proposal on this site
must demonstrate that there will be absolutely no
increase in traffic movements when compared to existing
uses.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the
eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS176 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located to the north of Hertford. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS predominantly contains B2 and B8 uses,
and is currently identified as an employment area (HE8) in the adopted East Herts Local Plan. Although the
ELAS does contain small areas of undeveloped land, it is predominantly covered by previously developed land.
Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 163 September 2015
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies further development that increases traffic movements on this
and surrounding areas of land have been resisted given the fact that the whole Mead Lane area is served by a
single point of access, Mill Road on to the wider highway network. The Mead Lane development brief
contained in the Hertford and Ware urban Transport plan identifies various improvements required to Mill
Road/Mead Lane to enable the release of further land to be re-developed. Any proposal on this site must
demonstrate that there will be absolutely no increase in traffic movements when compared to existing uses.
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS176 in the SPD: The Mead Lane
development brief contained in the Hertford and Ware
urban Transport plan identifies various improvements
required to Mill Road/Mead Lane to enable the release of
further land to be re-developed. Any proposal on this site
must demonstrate that there will be absolutely no
increase in traffic movements when compared to existing
uses.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS176 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 164 September 2015
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste although this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of Hartham Common, the River Lee and
Hertfordshire Way. The ELAS is also within 500m of many public rights of way, including public footpath
number 28 which runs along the northern boundary of the ELAS, and is adjacent to access land including
Kingsmead Common. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational
facilities and open spaces less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 165 September 2015
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of 755 households and employment uses to the west. Hertford East Station is
located within 300m to the southwest of the ELAS, and two residential properties are located on the eastern
edge. The ELAS is also adjacent to areas of access land including Kingsmead Common. Therefore, proposals
for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the
potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic
digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative
effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution
during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on
the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the
planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation
measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 166 September 2015
ELAS177 Caxton Hill/Ware Road
ELAS177 Caxton Hill/Ware Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS177 --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed --? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is within 500m of the Balls Park Local Wildlife Site. The ELAS is also adjacent to a small
area of woodland of local importance. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to
have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. Due to its proximity to the A10, should any waste
facility be developed within this ELAS there is potential for waste vehicles to travel along the A10, which may
give rise to increases in air pollution. The Habitats Regulations Assessment Report for the Waste Site
Allocations DPD found that there was potential for in combination effects on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods
SAC from air pollution arising from waste vehicle movements along the A10 if more than four allocated sites
within the eastern half of the County were to be developed at the same time. Therefore, there is potential
for a significant negative effect on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC due to air emissions from waste
vehicles on the A10, but only if this ELAS were to be developed for waste use at the same time as other
ELASs in proximity to the A10 or the three Allocated Sites in the eastern part of the County (AS019, AS025,
AS238). The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 167 September 2015
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20). Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS177 in the SPD also includes a requirement for transport assessments to include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC. This recommendation has been included in the ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery
facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require additional
mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater sources. Therefore, facilities for open-air
processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS177 in the SPD: Potential uses
other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination
of groundwater sources.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 168 September 2015
1c. The ELAS is within 100m to the southeast of the Hertford Conservation Area and within 500m to the
north of Balls Park Registered Park and Garden. The ELAS is also within 500m of an Area of Archaeological
Significance and within 1km of a Scheduled Monument, and the Grade II listed former Addis factory building
is located within 300m to the northwest of the site along Ware Road. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As
the ELAS is within 500m of a listed building the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact
on the setting of the listed building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on the precise
location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed building.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS177 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 169 September 2015
that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS177 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located in Hertford, adjacent to the A414. There are
currently no waste management facilities operating within the ELAS, and the site predominantly contains B2
and B8 uses. The ELAS is currently identified as an employment area (HE8) in the adopted East Herts Local
Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 170 September 2015
from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS177 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities; therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste although this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 171 September 2015
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of Balls Park and public rights of way including
public footpath number 42 which is to the east of the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative
effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by
making the recreational facilities and open space less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 780 households which surround the site to the west, north and east.
The ELAS is also within 250m to the east of a school. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have
the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 172 September 2015
ELAS178 Foxholes West
ELAS178 Foxholes West
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS178 --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed --? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air --? -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation designations
but is within 150m of the Balls Park Local Wildlife Site. The ELAS is also adjacent to a small area of
woodland of local importance, and is also adjacent to other woodland to the west and a belt of scrubland to
the east. Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative
affect on biodiversity in general. Due to its proximity to the A10, should any waste facility be developed
within this ELAS there is potential for waste vehicles to travel along the A10, which may give rise to
increases in air pollution. The Habitats Regulations Assessment Report for the Waste Site Allocations DPD
found that there was potential for in combination effects on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air
pollution arising from waste vehicle movements along the A10 if more than four allocated sites within the
eastern half of the County were to be developed at the same time. Therefore, there is potential for a
significant negative effect on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC due to air emissions from waste vehicles
on the A10, but only if this ELAS were to be developed for waste use at the same time as other ELASs in
proximity to the A10 or the three Allocated Sites in the eastern part of the County (AS019, AS025, AS238).
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 173 September 2015
The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more
than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20). Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS178 in the SPD also includes a requirement for transport assessments to include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC. This recommendation has been included in the ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery
facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require additional
mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater sources. Therefore, facilities for open-air
processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS178 in the SPD: Potential uses
other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination
of groundwater sources
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 174 September 2015
1c. The ELAS is within 150m of the Balls Park Registered Park and Garden and Area of Archaeological
Significance. The Grade II listed Balls Park Lodge, Gates and Screen Wall are located within 150m to the
south and the White House, a Grade I listed building, is located within 450m to the south of the site. The
ELAS is also within 500m of the Hertford Conservation Area and within 1km of a Scheduled Monument. The
development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on
these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the
potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the building will
depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of
the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS178 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Caxton Hill is a private road which also serves residential development. The road is physically linked to the
Foxholes industrial land to the south, but for legal reasons the connection cannot be used by vehicles. If the
restriction could be removed and all HGV traffic diverted through to Foxholes with a direct link to A414 the
site would be suitable for a highway viewpoint. Without such a link further HGV traffic along Caxton Hill and
through the Ware Road should be avoided.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS178 in the SPD: Caxton Hill is a
private road which also serves residential development.
The road is physically linked to the Foxholes industrial
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 175 September 2015
land to the south, but for legal reasons the connection
cannot be used by vehicles. If the restriction could be
removed and all HGV traffic diverted through to Foxholes
with a direct link to A414 the site would be suitable for a
highway viewpoint. Without such a link further HGV
traffic along Caxton Hill and through the Ware Road
should be avoided.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the
eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS178 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located in Hertford, adjacent to the A414. There are
currently no waste management facilities operating within the ELAS, and the site predominantly contains B2
and B8 uses. The ELAS is currently identified as an employment area (HE8) in the adopted East Herts Local
Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 100m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 176 September 2015
A minor negative effect is likely.
Caxton Hill is a private road which also serves residential development. The road is physically linked to the
Foxholes industrial land to the south, but for legal reasons the connection cannot be used by vehicles. If the
restriction could be removed and all HGV traffic diverted through to Foxholes with a direct link to A414 the
site would be suitable for a highway viewpoint. Without such a link further HGV traffic along Caxton Hill and
through the Ware Road should be avoided.
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS178 in the SPD: Caxton Hill is a
private road which also serves residential development.
The road is physically linked to the Foxholes industrial
land to the south, but for legal reasons the connection
cannot be used by vehicles. If the restriction could be
removed and all HGV traffic diverted through to Foxholes
with a direct link to A414 the site would be suitable for a
highway viewpoint. Without such a link further HGV
traffic along Caxton Hill and through the Ware Road
should be avoided.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste
proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport
travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS178 in the SPD also
includes a requirement for transport assessments
to include an assessment of the potential for air
pollution from waste transport to affect the
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 177 September 2015
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of Balls Park. Public Footpath Number 42 runs
along the eastern boundary of ELAS and there are other public rights of way within 500m. Therefore, the
ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and
access to the countryside by making the recreational facilities and open spaces less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 178 September 2015
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 460 households to the west, north and east of the site. The ELAS is
also within 250m to the east of a school. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the
potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 179 September 2015
ELAS181 Haslemere Industrial Estate
ELAS181 Haslemere Industrial Estate
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS181 - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. Thorley Flood Pound SSSI is within 1km of the south of the ELAS, and Rushy Mead Nature Reserve is
within 500m to the east. Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor
negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated
as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the
planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 180 September 2015
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS181 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance, and is within 150m of the Grade II listed Twyford Bury which is located to the east of the mainline railway and Twyford House, a Grade II* listed building is located within 300m to the southeast. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative
impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS181 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The mainline railway runs along the eastern boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is more than Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 181 September 2015
3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste management facility
could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use
of rail.
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS181 in the SPD: Bishop's Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS include: Pig Lane (western side) from B1383 London
Road (via either A1060 Hallingbury Road or A1184).
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Bishop’s Stortford. There are
currently no waste management facilities operating within the ELAS, and the site predominantly contains B1
and B2 uses. The ELAS is currently identified as an employment area (BIS9) in the adopted East Herts Local
Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 182 September 2015
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS181 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: Pig Lane (western side) from B1383 London
Road (via either A1060 Hallingbury Road or A1184).
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of many public rights of way, including
Hertfordshire Way, and is within 500m of the River Stort. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 183 September 2015
effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by
making these recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for users.
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 300 households, and Bishops Stortford High School is within 150m to
the west of the site. The site is also within 500m of an area of allotments to the northeast of the site.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have
a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise,
traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 184 September 2015
ELAS189 Twyford Road
ELAS189 Twyford Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS189 - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. Thorley Flood Pound SSSI is within 1km of the south of the ELAS, and Rushy Mead Nature Reserve is
within 500m to the east. Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor
negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated
as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the
planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 185 September 2015
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS181 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance, The Grade II listed Stylemans Farm
is located approximately 300m to the east of the site. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
As the ELAS is within 500m of a listed building the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative
impact on the setting of the listed building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on the
precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed
building.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS189 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The mainline railway runs along the eastern boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is more than
3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste management facility
could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use
of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 186 September 2015
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS189 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: B1383 London Road (via either A1060
Hallingbury Road or A1184).
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Bishop’s Stortford. There are
currently no waste management facilities operating within the ELAS, and the site predominantly contains B1
and B2 uses. The ELAS is currently identified as an employment area (BIS9) in the adopted East Herts Local
Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 187 September 2015
Waste Brief for ELAS181 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: Pig Lane (western side) from B1383 London
Road (via either A1060 Hallingbury Road or A1184).
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of many public rights of way, including
Hertfordshire Way, and is within 500m of the River Stort. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative
effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 188 September 2015
making these recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for users.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 450 households, and Bishops Stortford High School is within 150m to
the west of the site. The site is also within 500m of an area of allotments to the northeast of the site.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have
a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise,
traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 189 September 2015
ELAS182 Raynham Road/Dunmow Road Industrial Estate
ELAS182 Raynham Road/Dunmow Road Industrial Estate
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS182 - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is adjacent to Raynham Road Woodland Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of
a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The
potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than
500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 190 September 2015
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS182 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of Area of Archaeological Significance located within 400m to the northwest.
The ELAS is also located within 350m to the west of the Bishop’s Stortford Conservation Area and within
150m to the north of the Grade II listed Nag’s Head Public House and within 350m to the east of the
Grade II listed Hockerill Residential School. The development of any type of waste management facility
on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within
500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of
the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design
and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS182 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 191 September 2015
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS182 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: A1250 Dunmow Road via A120 Bishop’s
Stortford bypass.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Bishop’s Stortford, adjacent to the
A1250 Dunmow Road. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The
site predominantly contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an employment area (BIS9) in the
adopted East Herts Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient
use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS182 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 192 September 2015
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: A1250 Dunmow Road via A120 Bishop’s
Stortford bypass.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 200m of Bishops Stortford Golf Club to the east of the
site and is within 100 of the sports ground to the southwest of the site. Public Footpath Number 56 also
runs along the northern boundary of the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on
the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making
these recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 193 September 2015
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 990 households, two schools are within 200m to the north and
Hertfordshire and Essex High School is within 350m to the southwest of the site. The ELAS is also within
400m of Herts and Essex Community Hospital. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the
potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals
for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all
development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and
potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility,
its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning
application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures
implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure
centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 194 September 2015
ELAS183 Stansted Road/Goodliffe Park
ELAS183 Stansted Road/Goodliffe Park
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS183 - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is within 400m to the southwest of Bishop’s Stortford Marsh Local Wildlife Site and is also
adjacent to Birchanger Wood (located in Essex) which is an ancient semi-natural woodland. Therefore,
development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative affect on
biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA
or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The north-western portion
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 195 September 2015
of the ELAS is located in Source Protection Zone 1, which is more vulnerable to groundwater pollution,
but only if landfill or open air facilities were to be developed. The development brief for this ELAS specifies
that only enclosed waste transfer stations and material recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along
with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, would be acceptable within the ELAS that are located within
Source Protection Zone 1. No other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a
risk to groundwater resources would be appropriate; therefore there should be no effect on groundwater
quality. However, a larger area of the ELAS is situated outside of a Source Protection Zone. As the ELAS is
predominantly located outside of a Source Protection Zone, the ELAS is not considered likely to affect the
protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
A normal risk based approach will be applied with all
waste related planning applications on Employment Land
Areas of Search that are not located in a groundwater
Source Protection Zone.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m to the northeast of an Area of Archaeological Significance, and Parsonage
Mill, a Grade II listed building is within 400m to the southwest. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the
ELAS is within 500m of a listed building the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact
on the setting of the listed building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on the precise
location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed building.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS183 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 196 September 2015
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS183 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: B1383 Stansted Road via A120 Bishop’s
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 197 September 2015
Stortford bypass.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Bishop’s Stortford, adjacent to the B1383 Stansted Road. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the ELAS. The site predominantly contains B1 and B2 uses, and is currently identified as an employment area (BIS9) in the adopted East Herts Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site
will increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS183 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: B1383 Stansted Road via A120 Bishop’s
Stortford bypass.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 198 September 2015
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of public rights of way to the northwest and
southwest of the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these public rights of
way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 220 households. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could
have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and
air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from
waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities.
Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because
all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and
potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility,
its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning
application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures
implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 199 September 2015
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 200 September 2015
ELAS184 Stansted Road (West)
ELAS184 Stansted Road (West)
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS184 - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is within 450m to the southwest of Bishop’s Stortford Marsh Local Wildlife Site and is also
within 150m to the west of Birchanger Wood (located in Essex) which is an ancient semi-natural woodland.
Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative
affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an
SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning
application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The majority of the ELAS is
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 201 September 2015
located in Source Protection Zone 1, which is more vulnerable to groundwater pollution, but only if landfill
or open air facilities were to be developed. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that only enclosed
waste transfer stations and material recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed
inert waste recycling facilities, would be acceptable within the ELAS that are located within Source
Protection Zone 1. No other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a risk to
groundwater resources would be appropriate. A small area of the ELAS is situated outside of Source
Protection Zone. Therefore, the ELAS is not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
A normal risk based approach will be applied with all
waste related planning applications on Employment Land
Areas of Search that are not located in a groundwater
Source Protection Zone.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m to the northeast of an Area of Archaeological Significance, and Parsonage
Mill, a Grade II listed building is within 400m to the southwest. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
As the ELAS is within 500m of a listed building the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative
impact on the setting of the listed building. Impacts on the setting of the building will depend on the
precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed
building.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS184 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 202 September 2015
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The mainline railway runs along the western boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is more than
3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS184 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 203 September 2015
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: B1383 Stansted Road via A120 Bishop’s
Stortford bypass.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Bishop’s Stortford, adjacent to the
B1383 Stansted Road. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the ELAS. The
site predominantly contains B1 and B2 uses, and is currently identified as an employment area (BIS9) in
the adopted East Herts Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the
efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site
will increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS184 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: B1383 Stansted Road via A120 Bishop’s
Stortford bypass.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 204 September 2015
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of public rights of way to the northwest and
southwest of the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these public rights of
way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 220 households. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could
have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and
air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from
waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities.
Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because
all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and
potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility,
its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning
application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 205 September 2015
implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 206 September 2015
ELAS185 Woodside Road Industrial Estate
ELAS185 Woodside Road Industrial Estate
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS185 - 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is adjacent to Birchanger Wood and Bishop’s Stortford Golf Course Local Wildlife Sites.
Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative
affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an
SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning
application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 207 September 2015
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS185 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is located within an Area of Archaeological Significance. The development of any type of
waste management facility on the ELAS could have a significant negative effect on this heritage asset.
The development of some types of waste management facility on this ELAS could also have a negative
effect on the setting of this asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS185 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 208 September 2015
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS185 in the SPD: Bishop's
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: A1250 Dunmow Road via A120 Bishop’s
Stortford bypass.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Bishop’s Stortford, adjacent to the
A120 and the A1250 Dunmow Road. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within
the ELAS, but it is adjacent to a Household Waste Recycling Centre. The ELAS Predominantly contains B1
and B2 uses, and is currently identified as an employment area (BIS9) in the adopted East Herts Local Plan.
Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS185 in the SPD: Bishop's
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 209 September 2015
Stortford has a weight limit zone to enforce
inappropriate HGV movements within the town. HGV's
should be using appropriate roads for accessing different
areas of the town and specific routes for the ELAS
include: A1250 Dunmow Road via A120 Bishop’s
Stortford bypass.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the south of the site is within 100m of Bishop’s Stortford Golf
Course, and Public Bridleway Number 71 partly runs along the western boundary. Therefore, the ELAS
could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and
access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive
for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 210 September 2015
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 70 households and situated next to Birchwood High School. The ELAS
is also within 200m to the south of a hotel. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the
potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 211 September 2015
ELAS021 Employment Area, Cranborne Road
ELAS021 Employment Area, Cranborne Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS021 - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- -/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is adjacent to Furzefield Wood Local Wildlife Site, which is also a Local Nature Reserve.
Therefore, development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative affect on
biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA
or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The majority of the ELAS is
located in Source Protection Zone 1, which is more vulnerable to groundwater pollution, but only if landfill
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 212 September 2015
or open air facilities were to be developed. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that only enclosed
waste transfer stations and material recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed
inert waste recycling facilities, would be acceptable within the ELAS that are located within Source
Protection Zone 1. No other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a risk to
groundwater resources would be appropriate. Therefore, the ELAS is not considered likely to affect the
protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
1c. The ELAS is within 750m of the designated scheduled monument of the South Mimms motte and
bailey, and Gobions, a Grade II registered historic park and garden is located within 750m to the
northeast of the ELAS. Therefore, the development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS
is considered to have no effect on theses heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS021 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The East Coast mainline railway runs along the eastern boundary. However, the ELAS is more than
3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route, therefore development of the
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 213 September 2015
site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on reducing
reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Potter’s Bar. A Household Waste Recycling Centre, waste transfer station and district council depot currently operate from the ELAS. The site predominantly contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is currently identified as an employment area in the adopted Hertsmere Local Plan and Core Strategy DPD. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive
effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste
management facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse
gas emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. Grade 2 and Grade 3 Agricultural Land cover less than 50% of the ELAS, the development of the site
for any type of waste management facility is considered to have the potential to have a minor negative
effect on minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 214 September 2015
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the east of the site is within 100m of Potters Bar Golf Club, and
the south of the site is within 300m of King George V Recreation Ground and the Furzefield Centre. Also,
public footpath number 15 runs east-west through the employment land area and public footpath number 9
runs along the eastern boundary. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant negative effect on the
protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside, as development
of the ELAS could mean removing part of a facility (e.g. a public right of way).
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 400 households and the southeast corner of the site is within 250m
of a school. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative
effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as
in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also
have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of
noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However,
these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures
proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 215 September 2015
facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any
potential health or amenity effects.
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 216 September 2015
ELAS190 Stirling Way
ELAS190 Stirling Way
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS190 - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is within 500m of a Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on
this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site
would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 217 September 2015
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS190 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is not located within 1km of an AONB or within 500m of a designated heritage asset.
Therefore, development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS is considered to have no
effect on heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS190 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route
therefore development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant
negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Vehicles enter this site from the Stirling Way service road. HCC and Transport for London who manage it
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 218 September 2015
have concerns about the operation of the A1/A411 Stirling Corner roundabout. Similarly access to the A1 via
Ripon Way would be problematic if used by significant numbers of HGVs.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Borehamwood, adjacent to the
A1. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The site predominantly
contains B1 and B2 uses, and is currently identified as an employment area in the adopted Hertsmere Local
Plan and Core Strategy DPD. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient
use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste
management facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse
gas emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
Vehicles enter this site from the Stirling Way service road. HCC and Transport for London who manage it
have concerns about the operation of the A1/A411 Stirling Corner roundabout. Similarly access to the A1
via Ripon Way would be problematic if used by significant numbers of HGVs.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 219 September 2015
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral
has already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but within 500m of public rights of way. The south of the site is
within 500m of Mill Hill Golf Club, Moat Mt Open Space. The north of the site is also within 500m of Rowley
Lane Golf Course, Rowley Green Common, Rowley Lane Sports Ground and Ripon Park. Therefore, the
ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities
and access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities and public rights of way less
attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 850 households, and the north of the site is within 250m of a school.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have
a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise,
traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 220 September 2015
amenity effects.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 221 September 2015
ELAS191 Elstree Way employment area
ELAS191 Elstree Way employment area
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS191 - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 1km from the nearest international and national nature conservation
designations but is within 200m to the northeast of Maxwell Hillside Park Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the
development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site
and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 222 September 2015
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS191 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is not located within 1km of an AONB or within 500m of a designated heritage asset.
Therefore, development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS is considered to have no
effect on heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS191 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route
therefore development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant
negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 223 September 2015
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS191 in the SPD: Vehicles enter this site from the A5135 Elstree Way. HCC is working with Hertsmere Borough Council on a strategy to improve this road and its status as the western gateway to Borehamwood.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located in the centre of Borehamwood. There are
currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The site predominantly contains B1, B2
and B8 uses and is currently identified as an employment area in the adopted Hertsmere Local Plan and
Core Strategy DPD. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of
land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste
management facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse
gas emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS191 in the SPD: Vehicles enter
this site from the A5135 Elstree Way. HCC is working
with Hertsmere Borough Council on a strategy to
improve this road and its status as the western gateway
to Borehamwood.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 224 September 2015
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral
has already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 19 runs through the employment land
area and public footpath number 22 partly runs along the southern boundary. The south of the site is
adjacent to King Georges Playing Field and Tempsford Green, and within 100m of Maxwell Park. The Venue
leisure centre is within 400m to the west of the ELAS, and a Gold Driving Range and Arkley Open Space are
within 500m to the east of the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant negative effect on the
protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside, as development
of the ELAS could mean removing part of a facility (e.g. a public right of way).
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 225 September 2015
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 1,300 households and within 300m to the north of Kenilworth Primary
School and within 200m of the Hertswood Upper School. The site is also within 250m of two hotels.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have
a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise,
traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 226 September 2015
ELAS192 Otterspool Way Industrial Estate
ELAS192 Otterspool Way Industrial Estate
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS192 - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is within 350m of Berrygrove Wood local wildlife site which is located to the northeast of the of the M1 and
within 400m of Hartspring Meadow Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this
ELAS is likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would
need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is mostly situated
in Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 227 September 2015
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater sources. The north-western edge
of the ELAS is situated within Source Protection Zone 1; therefore only enclosed waste transfer stations and
materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables would be acceptable, along with enclosed inert waste
recycling facilities. No other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a risk to
groundwater resources would be appropriate. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste
management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
A detailed design for the management of surface water
and proposals to install an impermeable sealed drainage
scheme would be required for ELAS located in Source
Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS192 in the SPD: Due to the ELAS
being predominantly located within Source Protection
Zone 2, potential uses other than enclosed waste
transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that
handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste
recycling facilities, will require additional mitigation
measures to prevent contamination of groundwater. In
areas of the ELAS that are located within Source
Protection Zone 1, only enclosed waste transfer stations
and materials recovery facilities that handle dry
recyclables would be acceptable, along with enclosed
inert waste recycling facilities. No other potential uses
that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a
risk to groundwater resources would be appropriate.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 228 September 2015
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance, and within 600m of the designated
Scheduled Monument of the Moated Site at Bushey Hall Farm and the Grade II listed Bushey Hall Farm
House. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a
minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS192 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is only within 3km of an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, situated on the edge of Bushey, adjacent to the A41. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS predominantly Not needed.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 229 September 2015
contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is currently identified as an employment area in the adopted Hertsmere Local Plan and Core Strategy DPD. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 100m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 230 September 2015
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is the south of the site is within 500m of Bushey Hall Golf Club
and public footpath number 4 runs along the south-eastern boundary. The south of the site is also within
300m of a leisure centre, and the ELAS is also within 500m of other public rights of way. Therefore, the
ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and
access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for
users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 500 households and within 500m of Highwood Primary School. The
south east of the site is also within 250m of a hotel. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have
the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 231 September 2015
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 232 September 2015
ELAS230 Cantilion Haulage and Adjoining Land
ELAS230 Cantilion Haulage and Adjoining Land
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS230 - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but is
adjacent to a Local Wildlife Site north of Bushey Jewish Cemetery and is also adjacent to an area of open
grassland and scrub to the north west, as well as Hillfield Brook along its south-western boundary. Therefore,
the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 233 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS230 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
located within Source Protection Zone 3, additional
mitigation measures may be required to prevent
contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of Patchetts Green & Delrow Conservation Area. The development of any type
of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on this heritage asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS230 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is only within 3km of an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 234 September 2015
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, adjacent to the A41. There are currently no waste
management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains a petrol station and B2 and B8 uses.
Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 100m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 235 September 2015
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is within the Green Belt but on previously developed land, the southeast of the site is within
100m of a public right of way, and the south of the site is within 500m of a sports club and playing field.
Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational
facilities and access to the countryside by making these less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of two households and the northeast corner of the site is within 250m of a hotel.
The south of the ELAS is also within 250m of a cemetery. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could
have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and
air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 236 September 2015
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 237 September 2015
ELAS233 Lismirrane Industrial Park
ELAS233 Lismirrane Industrial Park
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS233 - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is greater than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
Aldenham Country Park Local Wildlife Site is located approximately 160m to the east. Therefore, the
development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located within
a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 238 September 2015
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS233 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance. The development of any type of
waste management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on this heritage asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS233 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is further than 3km from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 239 September 2015
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, adjacent to the A411 (Elstree Road) and the A41 (North
Western Avenue). There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS
contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as a local significant employment site in the adopted
Hertsmere Core Strategy DPD. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient
use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 240 September 2015
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is within the Greenbelt but on previously developed land. The ELAS is situated adjacent to the
Aldenham Reservoir and the London Loop public footpath. The site is also within 500m of Aldenham Country
Park. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of
recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities, public rights
of way and country park less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is adjacent to other employment uses and is within 500m of Aldenham Country Park.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting,
anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 241 September 2015
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 242 September 2015
ELAS235 The White House Commercial Centre
ELAS235 The White House Commercial Centre
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS235 --? 0/0/- -? -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- -? -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- -? -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation
designations, and therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is not expected to affect
biodiversity in general. However, the ELAS is within 10km downwind of Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods
SAC , as the designated site is approximately 7.5km to the north east of the ELAS. Therefore, if a thermal
treatment facility were to be developed on the ELAS there would be potential for significant negative effects
on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC due to air pollution, but
this is uncertain as would need to be modelled based on specific facility proposals. The potential for effects
on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site
would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC site if a thermal treatment facility proposal comes forward on this ELAS, it is recommended that the Waste Brief for ELAS235 in
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 243 September 2015
the SPD also includes a requirement to include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from the thermal treatment facility to affect Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC site.
This recommendation has been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS235 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 244 September 2015
1c. The south of the ELAS is located within 200m of Wrotham Park, a Grade II registered park and garden.
The Duke of York, a Grade II listed building is within 250m to the southwest of the site and Bentley Heath
Grade II listed farm buildings are situated 200m to the west of the site. Also, a number of Grade II listed
buildings located in Bentley Heath are situated within 350m to the southeast of the ELAS. The development
of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these
heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the
potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will
depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of
the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS235 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route
therefore development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant
negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail. The
development brief for this ELAS specifies that vehicles enter this site via Bentley Heath Lane off Dancers
Hill Road. Neither of these roads is suitable for a significant increase in HGV traffic.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area. There are currently no waste management facilities
operating within the site and the site contains B1 and B2 uses. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant
Not needed.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 245 September 2015
positive effect on the efficient use of land.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste
management facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse
gas emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that vehicles enter this site via Bentley
Heath Lane off Dancers Hill Road. Neither of these roads are suitable for a significant increase in HGV traffic.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 246 September 2015
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is within the Greenbelt but on previously developed land. The site is within 100m of Wrotham
Park and public footpath number 59 runs to the south of the site. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor
negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the
countryside by making these recreational facilities, public rights of way and access land less attractive for
users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of nine households, within 100m of Wrotham Park, and within 150m of a
Wyevale Garden Centre. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a
minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain
facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of
hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste
facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in
some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well.
However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation
measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed
that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any
potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 247 September 2015
ELAS026 Icknield Way East
ELAS026 Icknield Way East
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS026 - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is within 400m to the southeast of Norton Common Local Wildlife Site. Therefore development of a waste
facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The
potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than
500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 248 September 2015
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on geodeiversity.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS026 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 100m of Letchworth Conservation Area, and within 500m of an Area of Archaeological
Significance. The ELAS is also located within 500m of a number of Grade II listed buildings. The ELAS is
also within 100m of the Hitchin Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste management
facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is
within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the
setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location,
design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS026 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The mainline railway partly runs along the southern boundary. However, the ELAS is further than 3km
from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 249 September 2015
a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail. The
development brief for this ELAS specifies that the main routes including the key junctions to the area are
congested during peak periods, as high levels of car commuting occurs from Letchworth and Hitchin to
Stevenage. Any further intensification of areas concerned, if not managed effectively could exacerbate
existing problems on the adjoining network. Therefore, appropriate travel planning measures need to be put
in place to mitigate transport impacts.
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS026 in the SPD: Appropriate
travel planning measures need to be put in place to
mitigate transport impacts.
2b. The ELAS is part of an established employment area, located to the east of Letchworth Garden City
Town Centre. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS
contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an employment area (LE3) in the adopted North Herts
District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely. The development brief for this ELAS specifies the main routes including the
key junctions to the area are congested during peak periods, as high levels of car commuting occurs from
Letchworth and Hitchin to Stevenage. Any further intensification of areas concerned, if not managed
effectively could exacerbate existing problems on the adjoining network. Therefore, appropriate travel
planning measures need to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS026 in the SPD: Appropriate
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 250 September 2015
travel planning measures need to be put in place to
mitigate transport impacts.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Greenbelt but is within 500m of Norton Common and Letchworth Outdoor Pool
to the northwest of the site and a recreation ground to the northeast of the site. The ELAS is also adjacent
to the Icknield Way Trail. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational
facilities and areas of open space less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 251 September 2015
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 470 households, and also within 250m of places of worship and a Pre-
School Centre. The ELAS is also adjacent to further employment uses to the east and west. Therefore,
proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to
the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic
digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative
effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution
during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on
the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the
planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation
measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 252 September 2015
ELAS026 Works Road/Blackhorse Road, Letchworth (main site)
ELAS026 Works Road/Blackhorse Road, Letchworth (main site )
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS026 -- -/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed -- 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
-- 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air -- -/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
Icknield Way Railway Bank Local Wildlife Site is located within the ELAS. Therefore development of a waste
facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have significant negative effects on biodiversity in general. The
potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than
500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 253 September 2015
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is partly located in
Source Protection Zones 1, 2 and 3. Source Protection Zone 1 is the most vulnerable zone to
groundwater pollution but only if landfill or open air facilities were to be developed in it. The development
brief for this ELAS specifies that in areas located within Source Protection Zone 1, only enclosed waste
transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables would be acceptable, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities. No other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor,
which poses a risk to groundwater resources would be appropriate; therefore there should be no effect on
groundwater quality. However, as the ELAS is also located within Source Protection Zones 2 and 3, facilities
for open-air processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
A detailed design for the management of surface water
and proposals to install an impermeable sealed drainage
scheme would be required for ELAS located in Source
Protection Zone 2 and Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS026 in the SPD: In areas located
within Source Protection Zone 2, other potential uses will
require additional mitigation measures to prevent
contamination of groundwater. Additional mitigation
measures may be required for potential uses located
within the remaining areas of the ELAS that are situated
within Source Protection Zone 3.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 254 September 2015
1c. Part of the ELAS is an Area of Archaeological Significance, and the ELAS is within 100m of Letchworth
Conservation Area, and partly adjacent to the Hitchin Conservation Area. Howard Park and Gardens, a
Grade II registered historic park and garden is located 500m to the west and a number of Grade II listed
buildings are located to the west of the ELAS. The development of any type of waste management facility on
the ELAS could therefore have a significant negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within
500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of
the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and
facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings. The development of
some types of waste management facility on this ELAS could also have a negative effect on the setting of
these assets, particularly the Area of Archaeological Significance.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS026 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The mainline railway partly runs through the site and along the northern boundary of the site. However,
the ELAS is further than 3km from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the main routes
including the key junctions to the area are congested during peak periods, as high levels of car commuting
occurs from Letchworth and Hitchin to Stevenage. Any further intensification of areas concerned, if not
managed effectively could exacerbate existing problems on the adjoining network. Therefore, appropriate
travel planning measures need to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS026 in the SPD: Appropriate
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 255 September 2015
travel planning measures need to be put in place to
mitigate transport impacts.
2b. The ELAS forms part of the main employment area in Letchworth Garden City. The site contains a
Household Waste Recycling Centre, which is accessed off Blackhorse Road and a Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment Treatment Facility. The ELAS predominantly contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is
currently identified as an employment area (LE1 and LE2) in the adopted North Herts District Local Plan.
Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely. The development brief for this ELAS specifies the main routes including the
key junctions to the area are congested during peak periods, as high levels of car commuting occurs from
Letchworth and Hitchin to Stevenage. Any further intensification of areas concerned, if not managed
effectively could exacerbate existing problems on the adjoining network. Therefore, appropriate travel
planning measures need to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS026 in the SPD: Appropriate
travel planning measures need to be put in place to
mitigate transport impacts.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 256 September 2015
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is partly located on the edge of the Green Belt, and the southern boundary is adjacent to
North Hertfordshire Leisure centre and recreation grounds. Public footpath numbers 22 and 23 partly run
through the site and public footpath number 17 partly runs along the southern boundary. Therefore, the
ELAS could have a significant negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities
and access to the countryside, as development of the ELAS could mean removing part of facility (e.g. a
public right of way).
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 1,300 households, and other employment uses are located to the south,
north and west. The southwest of the ELAs is also within 250m of a school. Therefore, proposals for all
types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential
release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or
producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on
amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during
construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the
type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the
planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 257 September 2015
measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 258 September 2015
ELAS196 Wilbury Way
ELAS196 Wilbury Way
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS196 - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is greater than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
Cadwell Lane Gasworks Meadow Local Wildlife Site is within 300m to the west of the ELAS. Therefore, the
development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located within
a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 259 September 2015
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS196 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 1km of Ickleford
Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a
minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS196 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is adjacent to the East Coast Mainline railway and the Hitchin rail curve to the north. However,
the ELAS is only within 3km of an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore
development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on
reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 260 September 2015
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, situated to the north of Hitchin. The ELAS predominantly
contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an employment area (HE1 and HE2) in the adopted
North Herts District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient
use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 261 September 2015
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Greenbelt but is within 400m of the Icknield Way Trail to the north of the site.
Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational
facilities and access to the countryside by making the recreational facilities and public rights of way less
attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 262 September 2015
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of 15 households. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the
potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 263 September 2015
ELAS197 Wilbury Way
ELAS197 Wilbury Way
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS197 - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is greater than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
Cadwell Lane Gasworks Meadow Local Wildlife Site is 450m to the northwest of the site. Therefore, the
development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located within
a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 264 September 2015
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS197 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 1km of Ickleford
Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore
have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS197 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is adjacent to the East Coast Mainline railway and the Hitchin rail curve to the north. However,
the ELAS is only within 3km of an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore
development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on
reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 265 September 2015
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, situated to the north of Hitchin. A waste transfer station
operates from part of the site. The ELAS also predominantly contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently
identified as an employment area (HE1 and HE2) in the adopted North Herts District Local Plan. Therefore,
the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 266 September 2015
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems..
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside of the Greenbelt but the south of the site is within 200m of public footpath number
89. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of
recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities and public
rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 267 September 2015
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of 26 households. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the
potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 268 September 2015
ELAS198 Wilbury Way
ELAS198 Wilbury Way
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS198 0 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed 0 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
0 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air 0 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation designations.
Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have no effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located within
a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 269 September 2015
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS198 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is further than 500m from any designated heritage assets. The development of any type of
waste management facility on the ELAS is therefore considered to have no effect on heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS198 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is adjacent to the East Coast Mainline railway and the Hitchin rail curve to the north. However,
the ELAS is only within 1km of an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore
development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on
reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 270 September 2015
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, situated to the north of Hitchin. The ELAS predominantly
contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an employment area (HE1 and HE2) in the adopted
North Herts District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient
use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 271 September 2015
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Greenbelt but public footpath number 89 runs along the south-eastern boundary
of the site, and the southern boundary is within 500m of Walsworth Common. Therefore the ELAS could
have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to
the countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive
for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 272 September 2015
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 250 households and one school, which is located to the southeast of the
site. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting,
anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 273 September 2015
ELAS199 Wilbury Way
ELAS199 Wilbury Way
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS199 - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
Cadwell Lane Gasworks Meadow Local Wildlife Site is 200m to the northwest of the site. Therefore, the
development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located within
a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 274 September 2015
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS199 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 1km of Ickleford
Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore
have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS199 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is adjacent to the East Coast Mainline railway and the Hitchin rail curve to the north. However,
the ELAS is only within 3km of an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore
development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on
reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 275 September 2015
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, situated to the north of Hitchin. The ELAS predominantly
contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an employment area (HE1 and HE2) in the adopted
North Herts District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient
use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 276 September 2015
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Greenbelt but is within 400m of the Icknield Way Trail to the north, and within
300m of public rights of way to the west. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the
protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making the
recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 277 September 2015
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 100 households. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have
the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 278 September 2015
ELAS200 Cadwell Lane/Wallace Way
ELAS200 Cadwell Lane/Wallace Way
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS200 - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but is
situated within 150m of Cadwell Marsh Local Wildlife Site which is situated to the west of the east coast
mainline railway. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor
negative effect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated
as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the
planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located within
a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 279 September 2015
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS200 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required
to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 1km of an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 500m of Ickleford
Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore
have a minor negative effect on this heritage asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS200 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is adjacent to the East Coast Mainline railway and the Hitchin rail curve to the north. However,
the ELAS is only within 1km of an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore
development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on
reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 280 September 2015
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, situated to the north of Hitchin. A metal recycling facility
currently operates from part of the site. The ELAS predominantly contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently
identified as an employment area (HE1 and HE2) in the adopted North Herts District Local Plan. Therefore,
the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS states that the roads around this employment area are of substandard
design, which leads to problems particularly for larger vehicles. Also there are some capacity issues on the
network, particularly at the junction of Cadwell Lane/Grove Road/ Wilbury Way, which provides the only
access point to the industrial estate off Cadwell Lane and Wilbury Way. It is surrounded by residential
properties on all sides. A number of heavy goods vehicles use the junction which causes some issues with
the constrained geometry of the junction, and consequently its capacity. HCC commissioned a study to
investigate the appropriate set of mitigation measures for this junction. It concluded that any permanent
solution to the perceived issues of HGV’s would be very costly and difficult to justify economically. Smaller
scale schemes could help to alleviate some of the issues likely to be causing concern but would require
enforcement of turning bans and/or routing agreements in order to maximise benefits. Any scheme resulting
in a measurable benefit would result in the re-routing of HGV traffic which may present difficulties elsewhere.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 281 September 2015
Any further intensification could exacerbate existing problems.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 89 is adjacent to the western boundary of
the site, and the site is within 500m of Walsworth Common. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative
effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by
making these recreational facilities, open spaces and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 282 September 2015
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 240 households. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have
the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air
emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste,
and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for
all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development
would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during
operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and
potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In
addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be
sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 283 September 2015
ELAS028 Orchard Road (West)
ELAS028 Orchard Road (West)
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS028 - -/-/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/-/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/-/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air - -/-/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is within 320m to the north of Therfield Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest/Local Nature
Reserve. It also incorporates a small area of woodland and may have protected species (reptile) interest if
appropriate rough ground habitats are present. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS
is assumed likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would
need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The area of the ELAS south of
Orchard Road is located within Source Protection Zone 2 and Source Protection Zone 3, and the remaining
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 284 September 2015
areas are located outside of Source Protection Zones. Therefore, potential uses other than enclosed waste
transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste
recycling facilities, will require additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater
sources. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a minor negative
effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is within 1km of a RIGGS so is likely to have a minor negative effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2 and Source
Protection Zone 3.
A normal risk based approach will be applied with all
waste related planning applications on Employment Land
Areas of Search that are not located in a groundwater
Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS028 in the SPD: Other potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities will require additional mitigation measures to
prevent contamination of groundwater on land located in
Source Protection Zone 2. Additional mitigation measures may be required for potential uses located within the remaining areas of the ELAS and within areas situated in Source Protection Zone 3.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 285 September 2015
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance and Royston Conservation Area. The
Grade II listed buildings of Numbers 2 and 4 Old London Road are situated within 350m to the east of the
ELAS. The ELAS is also situated within 320m to the north of Therfield Heath Site of Special Scientific
Interest/Local Nature Reserve, which also contains a number of scheduled monuments. The development
of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on
these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise
the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings
will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and
location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS028 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The mainline railway to Cambridge runs along the southern boundary of the site. However, the ELAS is
further than 3km from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management
facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the
efficient use of rail. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that there is an existing peak hour
congestion on Old North Road and it is likely to worsen significantly as a result of intensification of the area
concerned. The York Way/Old North Road roundabout is also currently over capacity. A number of options
have been identified for improvements in the Urban Transport Plan for Royston. However, scope for further
improvements is limited by land availability. There may be the possibility of a direct access to and from A505
in the form of left in and left out only. This would provide wider benefit but would be contrary to the County's
highway policy as the A505 is a 70mph primary route. This matter needs to be subject to further detailed
assessment.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS028 in the SPD: Further detailed
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 286 September 2015
assessment is required due to identified congestion.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Royston. The ELAS contains a
Household Waste Recycling Centre, which is accessed off York Way via Beverley Close. The site
predominantly contains B2 and B8 uses and is currently identified as an employment area (RE1) in the
adopted North Herts District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the
efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 100m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that there is an existing peak hour congestion on Old North
Road and it is likely to worsen significantly as a result of intensification of the area concerned. The York
Way/Old North Road roundabout is also currently over capacity. A number of options have been identified for
improvements in the Urban Transport Plan for Royston. However, scope for further improvements is limited
by land availability. There may be the possibility of a direct access to and from A505 in the form of left in
and left out only. This would provide wider benefit but would be contrary to the County's highway policy as
the A505 is a 70mph primary route. This matter needs to be subject to further detailed assessment.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS028 in the SPD: Further detailed assessment is required due to identified congestion.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 287 September 2015
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 2 runs north-south through the site. The
ELAS is also within 500m of many other public rights of way, and within 500m of open space to the south of
the site. Therefore, the ELAS could have a significant negative effect on the protection and enhancement of
recreational facilities and access to the countryside, as development of the ELAS could mean removing
part of a facility (e.g. a public right of way), and make recreational facilities, open spaces and public rights of
way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 700 households and is adjacent to further employment uses. The site
is also within 300m of a school to the south of the site, and within 250m of two places of worship located to
the south and northeast of the site. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to
have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from
certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of
hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste
facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in
some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well.
However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation
measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed
that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any
potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 288 September 2015
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 289 September 2015
ELAS193 Station Approach, Hitchin
ELAS028 Station Approach, Hitchin
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS193 - 0/--/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/--/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/--/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/--/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is adjacent to a protected species (reptiles) Local Wildlife Site Hitchin Railway Cutting. Therefore, the
development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located within
a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 290 September 2015
sources.
The ELAS includes a RIGGS so is likely to have a significant negative effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS193 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required to prevent contamination to groundwater
1c. The ELAS is within adjacent to Hitchin Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on this heritage asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS193 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The east coast mainline railway runs along the north-eastern boundary. However, the ELAS is only
located within 1km of an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore
development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on
reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 291 September 2015
The development brief for this ELAS states that Station Approach lies within easy reach of a bus route and
located adjacent to the rail station. It is also 1km of the town centre. Station Approach benefits from extant
vehicle access from the B656 Walsworth Road that is classified as a local distributor road that is subject to a
speed limit restricted to 30mph. However, congestion in Hitchin at peak times is a major problem and along
Walsworth Road. Any further intensification of areas concerned, if not managed effectively could exacerbate
existing highway problems on the public highway. Therefore, appropriate travel planning measures needs to
be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS193 in the SPD: Appropriate travel planning measures needs to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located in the centre of Hitchin. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently
identified as an employment area (HE5) in the adopted North Herts District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS
could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS states that Station Approach lies within easy reach of a bus route and
located adjacent to the rail station. It is also 1km of the town centre. Station Approach benefits from extant
vehicle access from the B656 Walsworth Road that is classified as a local distributor road that is subject to a
speed limit restricted to 30mph. However, congestion in Hitchin at peak times is a major problem and along
Walsworth Road. Any further intensification of areas concerned, if not managed effectively could exacerbate
existing highway problems on the public highway. Therefore, appropriate travel planning measures needs to
be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS193 in the SPD: Appropriate travel planning measures needs to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 292 September 2015
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 118 runs along the southern boundary.
The ELAS is also located within 500m of many other public rights of way and areas of open space. Therefore
the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities
and access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way
less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of 390 households and is adjacent to Pinehill Hospital which is located to the
south. St. Andrews Church of England Primary School is located within 300m to the west and William Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 293 September 2015
Ransom Primary School is located within 300m to the southeast. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and
potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented
should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 294 September 2015
ELAS201 Royston Road
ELAS201 Royston Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS201 0 0/0/- -- - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed 0 0/0/- -- - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
0 0/0/- -- - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air 0 0/0/- -- - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation
designations. Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have no effect on
biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or
Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located within
a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 295 September 2015
sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS201 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be required to prevent contamination to groundwater
1c. The ELAS is within 250m to the north of the designated scheduled monument of the Romano-British
small town and late iron age settlement at Baldock. The site is also located within an Area of Archaeological
Significance and within 250m of Baldock Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a significant negative effect on these heritage assets.
The development of some types of waste management facility on this ELAS could also have a negative effect
on the setting of these assets, particularly the Area of Archaeological Significance.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS201 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The Cambridge mainline railway runs along the northern boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is
further than 3km from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management
facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the
efficient use of rail.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 296 September 2015
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the main routes including the key junction of Clothall
Road/Royston Road is congested during peak periods. Any further intensification of areas concerned, if not
managed effectively could exacerbate existing problems on the adjoining network. Therefore, appropriate
travel planning measures needs to put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS201 in the SPD: Appropriate travel planning measures needs to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area, located on the edge of Baldock. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is
currently identified as an employment area in the adopted North Herts District Local Plan. Therefore, the
ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 1km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the main routes including the key junction of Clothall
Road/Royston Road is congested during peak periods. Any further intensification of areas concerned, if not
managed effectively could exacerbate existing problems on the adjoining network. Therefore, appropriate
travel planning measures needs to put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS201 in the SPD: Appropriate travel planning measures needs to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 297 September 2015
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Greenbelt but is located within 500m of public rights of way and Clothall
Common. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of
recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space
and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 570 households and the southern boundary is within 250m of a school.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting,
anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 298 September 2015
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 299 September 2015
ELAS210 Colney Street Industrial/Warehousing Estate
ELAS210 Colney Street Industrial/Warehousing Estate
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS210 - 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is situated within 200m to the west of Old Parkbury Pond Local Wildlife Site and within 150m to the south of
the former Radlett Aerodrome Local WildlifeSite (located north of the M25), which is now a restored former
sand and gravel quarry. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to
have a minor negative effect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species
not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be
determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is situated in
Source Protection Zone 1, which is more vulnerable to groundwater pollution, but only if landfill or open air
facilities were to be developed. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that only enclosed waste
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 300 September 2015
transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste
recycling facilities, would be acceptable. No other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor,
which poses a risk to groundwater resources would be appropriate. Therefore no effects would be expected
on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
1c. The ELAS is partly within an Area of Archaeological Significance and is adjacent to the Grade II listed
George and Dragon Public House to the west and within 200m to the west of the Grade II listed Old Parkbury
Farmhouse. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a significant
negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is
uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the
setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the
characteristics and location of the listed buildings. The development of some types of waste management
facility on this ELAS could also have a negative effect on the setting of these assets, particularly the Area of
Archaeological Significance.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS210 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The East Midland mainline railway runs along the eastern boundary of the ELAS. However, the ELAS is
only within 1km of an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management
facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 301 September 2015
efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that despite being adjacent to the East Midlands Mainline railway to the east, the ELAS is not easily accessible by other modes of transport other than by car.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area and contains B1, B2 and B8 uses. The ELAS is currently
identified as an employment area (EMP.21) in the adopted St Albans District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS
could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that despite being adjacent to the East Midlands Mainline railway to the east, the ELAS is not easily accessible by other modes of transport other than by car.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. Grade 2 and Grade 3 Agricultural Land cover less than 50% of the ELAS, the development of the site for
any type of waste management facility is considered to have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 302 September 2015
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Greenbelt but public bridleway number 73 partly runs through the ELAS and
public bridleway number 5 runs along southern and partly along the site’s eastern boundary. Therefore, the
ELAS could have a significant negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities
and access to the countryside, as development of the ELAS could mean removing part of a facility (e.g. a
public right of way), and make recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 60 households and Moor Mill Hotel is situated approximately 400m to
the west. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect
on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 303 September 2015
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 304 September 2015
ELAS122 Acrewood Way
ELAS122 Acrewood Way
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS122 - -/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is further than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations
but is adjacent to the Alban Way, Smallford Pit and Smallford Nurseries Local Wildlife Sites and includes
small belts of woodland along the A1057. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and
species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be
determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 305 September 2015
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater sources. Therefore, facilities for
open-air processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is further than 1km from a RIGGS so is likely to have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS122 in the SPD: Potential uses
other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination
of groundwater sources.
1c. The ELAS is not located within 1km of an AONB or within 500m of a designated heritage asset.
Therefore, development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS is considered to have no
effect on heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS122 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 306 September 2015
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the A1057 Hatfield Road suffers significant congestion
and delay throughout the day. There are congestion spots that need to be improved along the road. This
is a major bus route and any measures should prove priority for buses and relieve congestion.
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located to the east of St Albans, bordering the A1057
(Hatfield Road) to the north. The ELAS contains a waste transfer station, which operates from Acrewood
Way and contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and a retail park. The ELAS is also currently identified as an
employment area (EMP.10) in the adopted St Albans District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 1km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas
emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the A1057 Hatfield Road suffers significant congestion
and delay throughout the day. There are congestion spots that need to be improved along the road. This is
a major bus route and any measures should prove priority for buses and relieve congestion.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 307 September 2015
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral
has already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but Public Footpath Number 11 partly runs through the ELAS, and
the ELAS is within 500m of other public rights of way and open spaces. Therefore, the ELAS could have a
significant negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to
the countryside, as development of the ELAS could mean removing part of a facility (e.g. a public right of
way), and make recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 240 households and Smallford Nurseries is located approximately
250m to the east. The ELAS is also within 250m of a school located to the southwest of the site. Therefore,
proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to
the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic
digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 308 September 2015
negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light
pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very
dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be
assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that
mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 309 September 2015
ELAS203 Porters Wood/Soothouse Spring
ELAS203 Porters Wood/Soothouse Spring
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS203 - -/0/- -- -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -- -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -- -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- -- -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is adjacent to the Long Spring/Soothouse Spring Wood and Beach Bottom Dyke Local Wildlife Sites.
Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have minor negative effects on
biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or
Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 310 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS203 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
mostly located within Source Protection Zone 3,
additional mitigation measures may be required to
prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is partly within an Area of Archaeological Significance and is adjacent to the designated
Scheduled Monument of Beech Bottom Dyke. The development of any type of waste management facility on
the ELAS could therefore have a significant negative effect on these heritage assets. The development of
some types of waste management facility on this ELAS could also have a negative effect on the setting of
these assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS203 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets. Proposals for waste management facilities along
the south-eastern boundary of the ELAS should take the
scheduled monument into consideration.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The East Midland mainline railway runs along the eastern boundary. However, the ELAS is more than
3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore development of the site
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 311 September 2015
for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on reducing reliance on
road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that access is via the King William Junction which is a major
congestion point and suffers significant congestion throughout the day. The congestion at this junction needs
to be addressed as part of the redevelopment proposal but the potential options to improve the junction are
limited. The redevelopment at the ELAS depends on the scale/size and type of development.
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS203 in the SPD: Access is via the
King William Junction which is a major congestion point
and suffers significant congestion throughout the day.
The congestion at this junction needs to be addressed as
part of the redevelopment proposal but the potential
options to improve the junction are limited. The
redevelopment at the ELAS depends on the scale/size
and type of development.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located in the north of St Albans. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently
identified as an employment area (EMP.8) in the adopted St Albans District Local Plan. Therefore, the ELAS
could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that access is via the King William Junction which is a major
congestion point and suffers significant congestion throughout the day. The congestion at this junction needs
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 312 September 2015
to be addressed as part of the redevelopment proposal but the potential options to improve the junction are
limited. The redevelopment at the ELAS depends on the scale/size and type of development.
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line. Waste Brief for ELAS203 in the SPD: Access is via the King William Junction which is a major congestion point and suffers significant congestion throughout the day.
The congestion at this junction needs to be addressed as
part of the redevelopment proposal but the potential options to improve the junction are limited. The redevelopment at the ELAS depends on the scale/size and type of development.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 313 September 2015
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 96 runs along the northern boundary of
the ELAS. Beech Bottom Dyke runs along the southern boundary of the site, and the site is also within 500m
of allotments to the south. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational
facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 300 households, and the western boundary is within 100m of a school.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting,
anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 314 September 2015
ELAS204 Council Depot and Adjoining Land
ELAS204 Council Depot and Adjoining Land
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS204 - -/0/- -- -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -- -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -- -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- -- -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is within 100m of the Beach Bottom Dyke Local Wildlife Site, which also supports a woodland. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have minor negative effects on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 315 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS204 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
mostly located within Source Protection Zone 3,
additional mitigation measures may be required to
prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is partly within an Area of Archaeological Significance and is adjacent to the designated
Scheduled Monument of Beech Bottom Dyke. The development of any type of waste management facility on
the ELAS could therefore have a significant negative effect on these heritage assets. The development of
some types of waste management facility on this ELAS could also have a negative effect on the setting of
these assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS204 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets. Proposals for waste management facilities along
the north-western boundary of the ELA should take the
scheduled monument into consideration.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The East Midland mainline railway runs along the western boundary. However, the ELAS is more than
3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore development of the site
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 316 September 2015
for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on reducing reliance on
road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that access is via the King William Junction which is a major
congestion point and suffers significant congestion throughout the day. The congestion at this junction needs
to be addressed as part of the redevelopment proposal but the potential options to improve the junction are
limited.
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS204 in the SPD: Access is via the
King William Junction which is a major congestion point
and suffers significant congestion throughout the day.
The congestion at this junction needs to be addressed as
part of the redevelopment proposal but the potential
options to improve the junction are limited. The
redevelopment at the ELAS depends on the scale/size
and type of development.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located in the north of St Albans. Part of the ELAS contains
a Household Waste Recycling Centre and a district council depot. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is
currently identified as an employment area (EMP.9) in the adopted St Albans District Local Plan. Therefore
the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that access is via the King William Junction which is a major
congestion point and suffers significant congestion throughout the day. The congestion at this junction needs
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 317 September 2015
to be addressed as part of the redevelopment proposal but the potential options to improve the junction are
limited.
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line. Waste Brief for ELAS204 in the SPD: Access is via the King William Junction which is a major congestion point and suffers significant congestion throughout the day.
The congestion at this junction needs to be addressed as
part of the redevelopment proposal but the potential options to improve the junction are limited. The redevelopment at the ELAS depends on the scale/size and type of development.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 318 September 2015
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 12 partly runs along the eastern
boundary of the ELAS. The southwest of the site is within 500m of allotments, and the southwest of the site
is within 500m of open space. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational
facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 630 households, and the northeast and the southwest the site is within
500m of schools. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor
negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities
such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous
waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could
also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of
noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 319 September 2015
ELAS205 Brick Knoll Park
ELAS205 Brick Knoll Park
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS205 - -/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is adjacent to the Alban Way and Hill End Lane Cemetery Local Wildlife Site and approximately 160m from
the Highfield Park South Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
likely to have minor negative effects on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and
species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be
determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 320 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS205 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
mostly located within Source Protection Zone 3,
additional mitigation measures may be required to
prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is not located within 1km of an AONB or within 500m of a designated heritage asset.
Therefore, development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS is considered to have no
effect on heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS205 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 321 September 2015
2a. The ELAS is further than 3km from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that this ELAS is an existing industrial use surrounded by enormous old residential settlements with local roads which are narrow and congested with on street parking. There are major congestion spots along the local road network and the site is not ideally situated for an industrial type employment use.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located to the east of St Albans City Centre. There are
currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1, B2 and B8 uses,
and is currently identified as an employment area (EMP.12) in the adopted St Albans District Local Plan.
Therefore the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that this ELAS is an existing industrial use surrounded by enormous old residential settlements with local roads which are narrow and congested with on street parking. There are major congestion spots along the local road network and the site is not ideally situated for
an industrial type employment use.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 322 September 2015
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public bridleway number 7 runs along the southern boundary of
the ELAS, and Highfield Park is within 500m of the southern boundary. Therefore the ELAS could have a
minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the
countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for
users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 1,130 households and the eastern boundary is within 200m of a place
of worship. The ELAS is also within 500m of a school to the west. Therefore, proposals for all types of
facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of
biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing
energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity,
because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 323 September 2015
and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility,
its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application
stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented
should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 324 September 2015
ELAS207 North Orbital Trading Estate
ELAS207 North Orbital Trading Estate
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS207 - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is adjacent to the North Orbital Fields Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on
this ELAS is likely to have minor negative effects on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would
need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 325 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS207 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
mostly located within Source Protection Zone 3,
additional mitigation measures may be required to
prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 400m of Sopwell Conservation Area and a Registered Park and Garden. The
development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative
effect on this heritage asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS207 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 326 September 2015
2a. The East Midland mainline forms the western boundary. However, the ELAS is further than 3km from an
existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a minor
negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that this ELAS is an existing industrial use surrounded by enormous old residential settlements with local roads which are narrow and congested with on street parking. There are major congestion spots along the local road network and the site is not ideally situated for an industrial type employment use.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located to the south of St Albans. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is
currently identified as an employment area (EMP.15) in the adopted St Albans District Local Plan. Therefore
the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that this ELAS is an existing industrial use with easy access on to A414 which is a primary route. The Highway authority has no fundamental objection for Industrial type of employment since the site is not accessible by sustainable modes of transport not suited for a B1 type of
employment use
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 327 September 2015
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public bridleway number 58 runs along the southern boundary of
the ELAS, and Verulam Golf Course is within 150m of the ELAS to the east of the A1000. Birklands Park is
also within 500m of the southeast of the site. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the
protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these
recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 220 households, and is within 500m of a school located to the
northeast. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 328 September 2015
effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 329 September 2015
ELAS208 Riverside Estate
ELAS208 Riverside Estate
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS208 - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is within 100m to the north of the River Colne and NE of Broad Colney Lakes Nature Reserve.
Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have minor negative effects on
biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or
Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is partly located
within Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 330 September 2015
have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS208 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
partly located within Source Protection Zone 3, additional
mitigation measures may be required to prevent
contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is adjacent to the London Colney Conservation Area and within 50m of the Grade II listed St.
Peters Church. The site is also within 100-200m of other Grade II listed buildings that are within the
Conservation Area, and is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance. The development of any
type of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative
impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the
precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed
buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS208 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 331 September 2015
2a. The ELAS is only within 3km of an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste
management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the site is on the A1081 between Bell Roundabout and
London Colney Roundabout. The site is an existing industrial site with a number of HGV movements.
However, as an employment site it is not easily accessible by other modes of transport to car.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located on the edge of London Colney. There are currently
no waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS Contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is
currently identified as an employment area (EMP.18) in the adopted St Albans District Local Plan. Therefore
the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 1km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the site is on the A1081 between Bell Roundabout and
London Colney Roundabout. The site is an existing industrial site with a number of HGV movements.
However, as an employment site it is not easily accessible by other modes of transport to car.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 332 September 2015
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 12 runs along the northern boundary of
the ELAS, and allotment gardens and Morris Playing Field are located to the north within 100m. Therefore the
ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and
access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less
attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 490 households, and is within 50m of St. Peters Church. Therefore,
proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to
the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic
digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative
effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution
during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 333 September 2015
the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the
planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation
measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 334 September 2015
ELAS037 Gunnelswood Road Employment Area (Area 3/4/5 & Area 3/5)
ELAS037 Gunnelswood Road Employment Area
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS037 - -/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is within 100m of the Norton Green Farm Pond, Garston Meadow and Warren Springs Local
Wildlife Sites and within 400m to the south of Symonds Green Local Wildlife Site. Monks Wood West Local
Wildlife Site is 320m to the east, Elder Way Flood Meadow Local Wildlife Site is 200m to the east, and Six
Hills Common Local Wildlife Site is 280m to the east. Knebworth Woods SSSI is also immediately adjacent
to ELAS Area 3/5 to the west of the A1(M). Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
likely to have minor negative effects on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and
species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be
determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. ELAS Area 3/4/5 is situated
in Source Protection Zone 1, Source Protection Zone 2, and Source Protection Zone 3. Area 3/5 is not
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 335 September 2015
located within a Source Protection Zone. Source Protection Zone 1 is more vulnerable to groundwater
pollution, but only if landfill or open air facilities were to be developed. The development brief for this ELAS
specifies that only enclosed waste transfer stations and material recovery facilities that handle dry
recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, would be acceptable in Source Protection
Zone 1. No other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a risk to groundwater
resources would be appropriate, therefore there should be no effect on groundwater quality. However, as
areas of the ELAS are located within Source Protection Zone 2 and Source Protection Zone 3, facilities for
open-air processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
A detailed design for the management of surface water
and proposals to install an impermeable sealed drainage
scheme would be required for ELAS located in Source
Protection Zone 2 and Source Protection Zone 3.
A normal risk based approach will be applied with all
waste related planning applications on Employment Land
Areas of Search that are not located in a groundwater
Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS037 in the SPD: In areas located
within groundwater Source Protection Zone 2, other
potential uses will require additional mitigation measures
to prevent contamination of groundwater. Additional
mitigation measures may be required for potential uses
located within the remaining areas of the ELAS that are
situated within Source Protection Zone 3.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 336 September 2015
1c. The ELAS contains the John Lewis Warehouse and the Broomin Green Farmhouse Grade II listed
buildings. The ELAS is within 200m of the Oakfield Farm Barn Grade II listed building and within 600m of the
Old Stevenage Conservation Area situated to the east of the East Coast mainline railway. Symonds Green
Conservation Area is situated approximately 100m to the north. The Grade II* registered historic park and
garden of Knebworth is within 600m to the south. The ELAS is also within 300m of the designated
Scheduled Monument of The Six Hills Roman Barrows. The ELAS also contains The Six Hills Area of
Archaeological Significanceand is within 300m to the south of the Symonds Green Area of Archaeological
Significance. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a
significant negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the
effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts
on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on
the characteristics and location of the listed buildings. The development of some types of waste
management facility on this ELAS could also have a negative effect on the setting of other heritage assets
within the ELAS, particularly the Area of Archaeological Significance.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS037 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. ELAS Area 3/5 is adjacent to the East Coast mainline railway. The ELAS is only within 1km of an existing
rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a minor negative
effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the area is an established employment area with links to key strategic road and rail links, although there are excessive queues approaching Gunnels Wood roundabout as well as congestion on key junctions during peak periods. Appropriate travel planning measures need to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 337 September 2015
Waste Brief for ELAS037 in the SPD: Appropriate
travel planning measures need to be put in place to
mitigate transport impacts.
2b. The ELAS is a large established employment area located within Stevenage. There are a number of
waste management uses that occupy both areas of the ELAS. These include a metal recycling facility, end of
life vehicle facilities, waste transfer stations and a district council depot. The ELAS contains B1, B2 and B8
uses and is currently identified as an employment area in the adopted Stevenage District Plan. Therefore the
ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. ELAS Area 3/4/5 is within 3km of a primary route, while ELAS Area 3/5 is within 100m. It is considered
likely that the development of this site will increase transportation by road to some extent, and would
therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions. A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the area is an established employment area with links to
key strategic road and rail links, although there are excessive queues approaching Gunnels Wood roundabout
as well as congestion on key junctions during peak periods. Appropriate travel planning measures need to be
put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS037 in the SPD: Appropriate
travel planning measures need to be put in place to
mitigate transport impacts.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 338 September 2015
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but both ELAS Areas are within 500m of many public rights of way
which are mainly to the west of the sites to the west of the A1(M). Both ELAS Areas are also within 500m of
Stevenage Leisure Park. ELAS Area 3/4/5 is within 300m of Meadway Playing Field, and ELAS Area 3/5 is
within 350m of Stevenage Football Club. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the
protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these
recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. ELAS Area 3/4/5 is within 250m of over 850 households, and the northeast area of the site is within
100m of a school. ELAS Area 3/5 is within 250m of over 124 households, and the eastern boundary is within
250 of North Hertfordshire College. Both ELAS Areas are also within 250m of other businesses and offices.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting,
anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 339 September 2015
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure
centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 340 September 2015
ELAS211 Pin Green Employment Area
ELAS211 Pin Green Employment Area
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS211 - -/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAs is adjacent to Wellfield Wood and Pryor’s Wood/Box Wood/Lob’s Hole Spring Local Wildlife
Sites, and is within 200m of Exeter Close Local Wildlife Site. Exeter Close is a wildlife site for protected
species. The ELAS is also adjacent to Hangbois Wood, which is of local value, and is located to the north.
Also, Martins Wood Local Wildlife Site is 150m to the south, Claypithills Spring Wood Local Wildlife Site is
80m to the east, and Brooches Wood Local Wildlife Site is 300m to the north. Therefore, the development of
a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have minor negative effects on biodiversity in general. The
potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than
500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 341 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS211 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
partly located within Source Protection Zone 3, additional
mitigation measures may be required to prevent
contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 400m to the north of Martin’s Wood Area of Archaeological Significance and is within
500m of a Scheduled Monument. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS
could therefore have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS211 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 342 September 2015
2a. The ELAS is more than 3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route
therefore development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant
negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that proposals should take consideration of congestion issues during peak periods. Appropriate travel planning measures need to be put in place to mitigate transport impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS211 in the SPD: Appropriate
travel planning measures need to be put in place to
mitigate transport impacts.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area located on the edge Stevenage. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is
currently identified as an employment area (E2/2) in the adopted Stevenage District Plan. Therefore the
ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that proposals should take consideration of congestion issues
during peak periods. Appropriate travel planning measures need to be put in place to mitigate transport
impacts.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS211 in the SPD: Appropriate
travel planning measures need to be put in place to
mitigate transport impacts.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 343 September 2015
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the north eastern corner of the ELAS is adjacent to St. Nicholas
Park, and the eastern boundary is within 350m of Great Ashby Park. Also, public footpath numbers 13a and
91 partly run along the eastern and western boundaries of the ELAS, and public bridleway number 19 partly
runs along the northern boundary. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection
and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational
facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 344 September 2015
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of approximately 1,700 households. The southern boundary of the ELAS is
within 150m of a school, and the northern boundary is within 200m of a school. Therefore, proposals for all
types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential
release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or
producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on
amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during
construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the
type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the
planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation
measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 345 September 2015
ELAS212 Tolpits Lane
ELAS212 Tolpits Lane
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS212 - 0/0/- -? -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- -? -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is adjacent to Hamper Mill Lakes Local Wildlife Site to the south and within 200m of Withey
Beds Local Wildlife Site situated to the southwest. The ELAS is adjacent to the Croxley Common Moor SSSI
and Local Nature Reserve to the north and Tolpits Lane Gravel Pits are 180m to the west. A disused railway
of local ecological value also forms the boundary of the northern edge with the SSSI. Therefore
development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have minor negative effects on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located in
Source Protection Zone 1, which is more vulnerable to groundwater pollution, but only if landfill or open air
facilities were to be developed. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that only enclosed waste
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 346 September 2015
transfer stations and material recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste
recycling facilities, would be acceptable within the ELAS that are located within Source Protection Zone 1. No
other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a risk to groundwater resources
would be appropriate. Therefore, the ELAS is not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
1c. The ELAS is adjacent to a site of archaeological interest and within 100m of the Grade II listed buildings
of Tolpits House and Little Tolpits Cottage. The ELAS is also located approximately 400m to the north of the
designated Scheduled Monument of the Manor of the More. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS
is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the
setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location,
design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS212 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 347 September 2015
2a. The West Coast mainline railway run’s along the western boundary. However, the ELAS is more than
3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore development of the site
for any type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on reducing reliance on
road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that is should be noted that if this site was to be developed in
connection with ELAS221 Watford Business Park, an elongated traffic route would be required along the
A412, Rickmansworth Town Centre and the A415 Tolpits Lane. These routes are already congested at peak
hours.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area situated between Watford, Northwood and Rickmansworth.
There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1 and B2
uses and is currently identified as an employment area (E(b): Tolpits Lane) in the adopted Three Rivers Site
Allocations Development Plan Document. Therefore the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the
efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that is should be noted that if this site was to be developed in
connection with ELAS221 Watford Business Park, an elongated traffic route would be required along the
A412, Rickmansworth Town Centre and the A415 Tolpits Lane. These routes are already congested at peak
hours.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 348 September 2015
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the northern boundary of the site is adjacent to Common Moor,
the eastern boundary is within 500m of King George V Playing Fields, the western boundary is within 250m
of Thurlows Lake, and the southern boundary is within 100m of Hampermill Lake. Public footpath number 17
is also adjacent to the northern boundary, and the Grand Union Canal and Grand Union Canal Walk are
located within 250m to the north of the ELAS. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the
protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these
recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 349 September 2015
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of approximately 120 households. Merchant Taylors School is within 250m of
the southern boundary of the ELAS, as is another school to the southwest. Further employment uses are
also located to the north of the ELAS. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to
have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from
certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of
hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste
facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in
some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well.
However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation
measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed
that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any
potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 350 September 2015
ELAS221 Watford Business Park
ELAS221 Watford Business Park
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS221 - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - 0/0/- - -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The southwest corner of the ELAS is within 100m of Croxley Common Moor SSSI, the ELAS is also within
200m to the south of Ascot Road Scrub Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of a waste facility on
this ELAS is likely to have minor negative effects on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would
need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located in
Source Protection Zone 1, which is more vulnerable to groundwater pollution, but only if landfill or open air
facilities were to be developed. The development brief for this ELAS specifies that only enclosed waste
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 351 September 2015
transfer stations and material recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste
recycling facilities, would be acceptable within the ELAS that are located within Source Protection Zone 1. No
other potential uses that may generate a leachate or liquor, which poses a risk to groundwater resources
would be appropriate. Therefore, the ELAS is not considered likely to affect the protection of groundwater
sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A risk assessment would
be required for ELAS that are located in Source
Protection Zone 1, which should address any
contamination concerns. The assessment should also pay
particular attention to noise, dust and odour generation
and the impact (and mitigation) of the development on
the surrounding environment. Further operations on the
site may require mitigation against groundwater
pollution.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance. The development of any type of
waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor negative effect on this heritage asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS221 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 352 September 2015
2a. The ELAS is only within 3km from an existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route
therefore development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a significant
negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that vehicles enter this site from the adjacent Ascot Road off the A412 Rickmansworth Road. It will be accessible via the Croxley Rail Link when the new station at Ascot Road opens in 2016. If this site was to be developed in connection with ELAS212 Tolpits Lane an elongated traffic route would be required along the A412, Rickmansworth Town Centre and the A4145 Tolpits Lane.
These routes are already congested at peak hours. There is no road access across Tolpits Lane between the two sites.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area situated on the edge of Watford. A waste management
station currently operates from Caxton Way within the ELAS. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is
currently identified as an employment area (E1) in the adopted Watford District Plan. Therefore the ELAS
could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste management
facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse gas
emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that vehicles enter this site from the adjacent Ascot Road off
the A412 Rickmansworth Road. It will be accessible via the Croxley Rail Link when the new station at Ascot
Road opens in 2016. If this site was to be developed in connection with ELAS212 Tolpits Lane an elongated
traffic route would be required along the A412, Rickmansworth Town Centre and the A4145 Tolpits Lane.
These routes are already congested at peak hours. There is no road access across Tolpits Lane between the
two sites.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 353 September 2015
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the northern boundary is within 100m of the Grand Union Canal
and Grand Union Canal Walk. The ELAS is also within 500m King George V Playing Fields and a community
centre located to the southeast. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational
facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 920 households. Westfield Community Technology College is within
250m of the eastern boundary, and the ELAS is also adjacent to further employment uses to the west and
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 354 September 2015
south. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect
on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 355 September 2015
ELAS213 Odhams and Sandown
ELAS213 Odhams and Sandown
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS213 0 -/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed 0 0/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
0 0/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air 0 -/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation designations
and therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have no effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated an as SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery
facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require additional
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 356 September 2015
mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater sources. Therefore, facilities for open-air
processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater
sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS213 in the SPD: Potential uses
other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination
of groundwater sources.
1c. The ELAS is not located within 1km of an AONB or within 500m of a designated heritage asset.
Therefore, development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS is considered to have no
effect on heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS213 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 357 September 2015
2a. The Abbeyline branch railway from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey runs along the eastern
boundary. However, the ELAS is only within 3km of an existing rail depot so development of the site for any
type of waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road
freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is an existing industrial/commercial area. Vehicles
enter from Bushey Mill Lane which links the A412 St Albans Road to the west and A4008 Stephenson Way
(and M1 junction 5) to the east. It should be noted that The Dome Roundabout was highlighted as congested
at peak hours in the Watford Congestion Study. Investigative work being carried out in 2012/13 to consider if
the traffic light patterns can be altered to improve flow with a focus on the A41 (same side as the Sandown
site) junction with the Dome Roundabout.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area situated in the centre of Watford. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within either ELAS. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is
currently identified as employment areas (E6a) in the adopted Watford District Plan. Therefore the ELAS
could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is an existing industrial/commercial area. Vehicles
enter from Bushey Mill Lane which links the A412 St Albans Road to the west and A4008 Stephenson Way
(and M1 junction 5) to the east. It should be noted that The Dome Roundabout was highlighted as congested
at peak hours in the Watford Congestion Study. Investigative work being carried out in 2012/13 to consider if
the traffic light patterns can be altered to improve flow with a focus on the A41 (same side as the Sandown
site) junction with the Dome Roundabout.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 358 September 2015
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the northern boundary is within 500m of a public right of way
which leads through Stanborough Park. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the
protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these
recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 670 households and is also adjacent Parkgate Infant School. The
northwest boundary is within 250m of Garston Fire Station and a school. The southern boundary is also
within 250m of Parkgate Junior School. Further employment uses are also located to the south of the ELAS.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting,
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 359 September 2015
anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 360 September 2015
ELAS214 Greycaine
ELAS214 Greycaine
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS214 0 -/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed 0 0/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
0 0/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air 0 -/0/- 0 - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation designations
and therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is likely to have no effect on biodiversity in
general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and
more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials recovery
facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require additional
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 361 September 2015
mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater sources. Therefore, facilities for open-air
processes for waste management could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater
sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2.
Waste Brief for ELAS214 in the SPD: Potential uses
other than enclosed waste transfer stations and materials
recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with
enclosed inert waste recycling facilities, will require
additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination
of groundwater sources.
1c. The ELAS is not located within 1km of an AONB or within 500m of a designated heritage asset.
Therefore, development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS is considered to have no
effect on heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS214 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 362 September 2015
2a. The Abbeyline branch railway from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey runs along the western
boundary. However, the ELAS is only within 1km of an existing rail depot so development of the site for any
type of waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road
freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is an existing industrial/commercial area.
Vehicles enter from Bushey Mill Lane which links the A412 St Albans Road to the west and A4008 Stephenson
Way (and M1 junction 5) to the east. It should be noted that The Dome Roundabout was highlighted as
congested at peak hours in the Watford Congestion Study. Investigative work being carried out in 2012/13 to
consider if the traffic light patterns can be altered to improve flow with a focus on the A41 (same side as the
Sandown site) junction with the Dome Roundabout.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area situated in the centre of Watford. There are currently no
waste management facilities operating within either ELAS. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is
currently identified as employment areas (E6b) in the adopted Watford District Plan. Therefore the ELAS
could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is an existing industrial/commercial area. Vehicles
enter from Bushey Mill Lane which links the A412 St Albans Road to the west and A4008 Stephenson Way
(and M1 junction 5) to the east. It should be noted that The Dome Roundabout was highlighted as congested
at peak hours in the Watford Congestion Study. Investigative work being carried out in 2012/13 to consider if
the traffic light patterns can be altered to improve flow with a focus on the A41 (same side as the Sandown
site) junction with the Dome Roundabout.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 363 September 2015
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the northern boundary is within 500m of a public right of way
which leads through Stanborough Park, and within 500m of Lea Farm Recreation Ground. The eastern
boundary is within 500m of Colne Valley Linear Park and a Golf Driving Range. Therefore the ELAS could
have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to
the countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive
for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 1,250 households and the southeast boundary is within 250m of a place
of worship. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative
effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as
composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 364 September 2015
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 365 September 2015
ELAS048a Travellers Lane
ELAS048a Travellers Lane
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS048a - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is adjacent to North of Parsonage Road Local Wildlife Site and within 100m of Marshmoor Lane Grassland
Strip Local Wildlife Site situated to the east of the East Coast mainline. The ELAS is within 150m to the north
of Grassland nr Butterfield Cottage Local Wildlife Site and is also within 225m to the west of Southway road
verge Local Wildlife Site. Millward’s Park Local Wildlife Site is also within 250m to the east. Roads separate
these sites from the ELAS, which includes a small boundary strip of woodland along Dixons Hill Road.
Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative affect on
biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or
Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is partly located
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 366 September 2015
within Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could
have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS048a in the SPD: Due to the site’s partial location in Source Protection Zone 3, additional mitigation measures may be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. A Grade I listed registered park and garden is within 200m of the ELAS to the east of the A1000. The
development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on
this heritage asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS048a in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 367 September 2015
2a. The East Coast mainline runs along the site’s eastern boundary. However, the ELAS is further than 3km
from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have
a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the northern part of the site is served from a roundabout
off Travellers Lane with A1001 South Way. This access also serves AS048 New Barnfield and there would be
a need in any Transport Assessment to consider the combined impact. The site has good access to the
strategic road network. The southern part of the site is served from an access onto Dixons Hill Road which
links with the A1001. Traffic should be directed to the A1001, away from the residential properties in
Welham Green.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS048a in the SPD: The
development brief for this ELAS specifies that the
northern part of the site is served from a roundabout
off Travellers Lane with A1001 South Way. This
access also serves AS048 New Barnfield and there
would be a need in any Transport Assessment to
consider the combined impact. The site has good
access to the strategic road network. The southern
part of the site is served from an access onto Dixons
Hill Road which links with the A1001. Traffic should
be directed to the A1001, away from the residential
properties in Welham Green.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area between Hatfield and Welham Green. A metal recycling
facility is accessed within the ELAS off Travellers Lane. The ELAS contains B1, B2 and B8 uses, and is
currently identified as an employment area (EA8) in the adopted Welwyn Hatfield District Plan. Therefore the
ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 368 September 2015
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the northern part of the site is served from a roundabout
off Travellers Lane with A1001 South Way. This access also serves AS048 New Barnfield and there would be
a need in any Transport Assessment to consider the combined impact. The site has good access to the
strategic road network. The southern part of the site is served from an access onto Dixons Hill Road which
links with the A1001. Traffic should be directed to the A1001, away from the residential properties in
Welham Green.
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS048a in the SPD: The
development brief for this ELAS specifies that the
northern part of the site is served from a roundabout off
Travellers Lane with A1001 South Way. This access also
serves AS048 New Barnfield and there would be a need
in any Transport Assessment to consider the combined
impact. The site has good access to the strategic road
network. The southern part of the site is served from an
access onto Dixons Hill Road which links with the A1001.
Traffic should be directed to the A1001, away from the
residential properties in Welham Green.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 369 September 2015
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 20 runs south along Travellers Lane along
the northern boundary. The eastern boundary is within 300m of Millward’s Park. Therefore the ELAS could
have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to
the countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive
for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 720 households and Southfield School is located approximately 100m to
the west. St Mary’s Church of England Primary School is also located within 250m of the western boundary.
Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting,
anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a
significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic,
and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are
very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would
be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and
that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 370 September 2015
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 371 September 2015
ELAS223 Welwyn Garden City Industrial Area
ELAS223 Welwyn Garden City Industrial Area
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS223 -- -/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed -- 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
-- 0/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air -- -/0/- --? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is located within Watch Mead Disused Railway Local Wildlife Site and is adjacent to Blackfan Valley, Bushey
Lees and Twentieth Mile Bridge Allotments Ox Wood Local Wildlife Sites. The ELAS also includes small strips
of woodland and these are locally valuable given the otherwise entirely developed nature of the area.
Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a significant negative affect
on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA
or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 372 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS223 in the SPD: Due to the site’s partial location in Source Protection Zone 3, additional
mitigation measures may be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is adjacent to an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 100m of two Areas of
Archaeological Significance. The former Shredded Wheat factory and the Roche Products factory Grade II
listed buildings are located within the ELAS. Welwyn Garden City Conservation Area is also within 100m of
the ELAS to the west of the East Coast mainline railway. The development of any type of waste
management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a significant negative effect on these heritage assets.
As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative
impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the
precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed
buildings. The development of some types of waste management facility on this ELAS could also have a
negative effect on the setting of other heritage assets within the ELAS, particularly the Area of Archaeological
Significance.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS223 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The East Coast mainline runs along the site’s western boundary. However, the ELAS is further than 3km
from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have
a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the impact on existing traffic generation on Bridge Road/Broadwater Road and Mundells gyratory would need to be considered along with the neighbouring town centre.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 373 September 2015
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS223 in the SPD: The
development brief for this ELAS specifies that the
impact on existing traffic generation on Bridge
Road/Broadwater Road and Mundells gyratory would
need to be considered along with the neighbouring
town centre.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area in the centre of Welwyn Garden City. A district council
depot, and waste transfer station and a metal recycling facility are located within the site. The ELAS contains
B1, B2 and B8 uses and is currently identified as an employment area (EA1) in the adopted Welwyn Hatfield
District Plan. Therefore the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the impact on existing traffic generation on Bridge
Road/Broadwater Road and Mundells gyratory would need to be considered along with the neighbouring town
centre.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS223 in the SPD: The
development brief for this ELAS specifies that the impact
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 374 September 2015
on existing traffic generation on Bridge Road/Broadwater
Road and Mundells gyratory would need to be
considered along with the neighbouring town centre.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but byway number 10 and bridleway numbers 10 and 60 run through
the ELAS. Panshanger Golf Complex is also within 100m of the northeast of the ELAS, and Welwyn Garden
City Gootball Club Ground is within 500m of the eastern boundary. Therefore, the ELAS could have a
significant negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the
countryside, as development of the ELAS could mean removing part of a facility (e.g. a public right of way),
and make recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 375 September 2015
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 3,300 households. There are also schools located within 250m to the
east (e.g. Sir Frederic Osborn School) and south of the site (e.g. Holwell Primary School), and Oaklands
College is within 250m of the west of the site. There are also places of worship within 250m of the northern
boundary of the ELAS. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor
negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities
such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous
waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could
also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of
noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure
centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 376 September 2015
ELAS043 Burrowfields/Chequersfield
ELAS043 Burrowfields/Chequersfield
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS043 -- -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed -- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
-- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air -- -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation
designations. The ELAS does however include and is bordered by strips of woodland, which are of local
ecological value to the ELAS. Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to
have a significant negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and
species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be
determined at the planning application stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is partly located
within Source Protection Zone 3 and therefore facilities for open-air processes for waste management could
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 377 September 2015
have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS043 in the SPD: As ELAS043 is
located in Source Protection Zone 3, additional mitigation measures may be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS lies to the west of an Area of Archaeological Significance and to the east of another. Both areas
note Iron Age and Roman Occupation. Archaeological remains have been recorded around the site, the
southern part of which may have been undisturbed in the modern period. Therefore, any surviving
archaeological remains could survive. The ELAS is also within 300m of the Welwyn Garden City Conservation
Area. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor
negative effect on these heritage assets. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is
uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the
setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the
characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS043 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The East Coast mainline runs along the site’s western boundary. However, the ELAS is further than 3km
from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have
a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the current industrial uses on the site are served from
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 378 September 2015
Burrowfields, which also serves a number of residential properties. Any development on the vacant southern
part of the site should be served from the existing roundabout in Chequersfield which can accommodate HGV
movements. If the site continues to be served by two separate accesses, consideration should be given to
providing at minimum a cycle/footway link between the two sites.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS043 in the SPD: Any development on the vacant southern part of the site should be served from the existing roundabout in Chequersfield which can accommodate HGV movements. If the site continues to be served by two separate accesses, consideration should be given to providing at
minimum a cycle/footway link between the two sites.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area in Welwyn Garden City. A waste transfer station and
bailing facility is located at numbers 50-52 and a bunded storage facility for non-hazardous liquid waste is
located at number 34. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an employment area
(EA2) in the adopted Welwyn Hatfield District Plan. Therefore the ELAS could have a significant positive
effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the current industrial uses on the site are served from
Burrowfields, which also serves a number of residential properties. Any development on the vacant southern
part of the site should be served from the existing roundabout in Chequersfield which can accommodate HGV
movements. If the site continues to be served by two separate accesses, consideration should be given to
providing at minimum a cycle/footway link between the two sites.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 379 September 2015
Waste Brief for ELAS043 in the SPD: Any
development on the vacant southern part of the site
should be served from the existing roundabout in
Chequersfield which can accommodate HGV movements.
If the site continues to be served by two separate
accesses, consideration should be given to providing at
minimum a cycle/footway link between the two sites.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 67 runs to the south of the ELAS, and the
Gosling Sports Park is located 200m to the west. Stanborough Park is also located within 500m to the
southwest of the site. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 380 September 2015
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational
facilities, and public rights of way less attractive for users.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 820 households. Two primary schools and a children’s centre are
located within 250m of the east of the ELAS, and a hotel is located within 250m to the northwest of the ELAS
to the west of the East Coast mainline. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential
to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from
certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of
hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste
facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in
some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well.
However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation
measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed
that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any
potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 381 September 2015
ELAS044 Hatfield Aerodrome
ELAS044 Hatfield Aerodrome
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS044 0 -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed 0 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
0 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air 0 -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - -/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international, national and local conservation
designations. Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have no effect on
biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or
Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is predominantly
located within Source Protection Zone 3 and therefore facilities for open-air processes for waste management
could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources. However, some areas of the
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 382 September 2015
ELAS are also located in Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed waste transfer stations
and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert waste recycling
facilities, will require additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2 and Source
Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS044 in the SPD: As ELAS044 is
located in Source Protection Zone 3 and Source Protection Zone, additional mitigation measures will be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is adjacent to an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 300m of the Grade II listed
Astwick Manor, which is situated within an Area of Archaeological Significance. The site is also situated
within 500m to the east of the former Harpsfield Hall. The Grade II* listed former BAe Flight Test Hangar is
located approximately 200m to the southwest of the ELAS and the Grade II listed former de Havilland
Administration Block, Canteen and Gatehouse are situated approximately 300m to the south of the ELAS. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could therefore have a minor
negative effect on this heritage asset. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain
to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the
buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics
and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS044 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is further than 3km from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is covered by the Hatfield Aerodrome SPG and
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 383 September 2015
levels of traffic from the site are set out in relation to a measure of the Units of Development (UD) that are
permitted on the site. Any proposals that led to a change in the type of number of Units of UD would need to
be supported by a Transport Assessment which looked at the impact on the site junctions particularly with
Comet Way and St Albans Road West. The road layout accommodates HGV movements.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS044 in the SPD: Any
proposals that led to a change in the type of number
of Units of UD would need to be supported by a
Transport Assessment which looked at the impact on
the site junctions particularly with Comet Way and St
Albans Road West.
2b. The ELAS is a newly established employment area on the former BAe Hatfield Aerodrome site, situated
to the northwest of Hatfield. There are currently no waste management facilities operating within the site.
The ELAS contains B1, B2 and B8 uses and is currently identified as an employment area (EA6) in the
adopted Welwyn Hatfield District Plan. Therefore the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the
efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 500m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is covered by the Hatfield Aerodrome SPG and levels of traffic from the site are set out in relation to a measure of the Units of Development (UD) that are permitted on the site. Any proposals that led to a change in the type of number of Units of UD would need to
be supported by a Transport Assessment which looked at the impact on the site junctions particularly with Comet Way and St Albans Road West. The road layout accommodates HGV movements.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS044 in the SPD: Any proposals
that led to a change in the type of number of Units of UD
would need to be supported by a Transport Assessment
which looked at the impact on the site junctions
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 384 September 2015
particularly with Comet Way and St Albans Road West.
4c. Grade 2 and Grade 3 Agricultural Land cover less than 50% of the ELAS, the development of the site for
any type of waste management facility is considered to have the potential to have a minor negative effect on
minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but the south of the site is within 200m of a leisure centre and public
footpath number 69 runs along Hatfield Avenue to the north of the site. Therefore the ELAS could have a
minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the
countryside by making these recreational facilities and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 385 September 2015
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 820 households. The ELAS is adjacent to Howe Dell Primary School
which is located to the southwest, and is within 500m of Green Lanes Primary School to the northeast and a
Hotel and the University of Hertfordshire to the south. Further employment uses are also located to the
southeast of the site. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor
negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities
such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous
waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could
also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of
noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 386 September 2015
ELAS224 Great North Road
ELAS224 Great North Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS224 - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
although separated by the A414, Stanborough Reedmarsh Local Nature Reserve is situated approximately
350m to the north, and wood south of Woodhall Farm Local Wildlife Site is situated 300m to the north.
Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative affect on
biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or
Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is predominantly
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 387 September 2015
located within Source Protection Zone 3 and therefore facilities for open-air processes for waste management
could have a minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources. However, a small portion of
the northern part of the ELAs is located in Source Protection Zone 2. Potential uses other than enclosed
waste transfer stations and materials recovery facilities that handle dry recyclables, along with enclosed inert
waste recycling facilities, will require additional mitigation measures to prevent contamination of groundwater.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 2 and Source
Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS224 in the SPD: As ELAS224 is located in Source Protection Zone 3 and Source Protection Zone 2, additional mitigation measures will be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 500m of an Area of Archaeological Significance, and is adjacent to the grade II listed
Wrestlers Public House. The Grade I registered park and garden of Hatfield House is also located within 500m
to the south-east. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a
minor negative effect on this heritage asset. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is
uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the
setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the
characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS224 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 388 September 2015
2a. The East Coast mainline runs along the eastern boundary. However, the ELAS is further than 3km from
an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a
minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that this area is already in employment use and links directly with the A414. The Highway Authority has no fundamental objection for Industrial type of employment.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area in Hatfield. There are currently no waste management
facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an
employment area (EA3) in the adopted Welwyn Hatfield District Plan. Therefore the ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 100m of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that this area is already in employment use and links directly with the A414. The Highway Authority has no fundamental objection for Industrial type of employment.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 389 September 2015
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is adjacent to Birchwood Leisure Centre and the associated
playing field to the west. Public rights of way are within 200m of the south of the site, including the
Smallford Trail. Home Park and the registered park and garden of Hatfield House are also within 500m of
the southeast of the ELAS. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and
enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the countryside by making these recreational
facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 760 households. The ELAS is within 250m of a school located to the Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 390 September 2015
east of the site and the East Coast mainline. Oldings Corner Retail Park is also located within 150m to the
northwest. A prior notification application for the change of use of Steele House to residential within the ELAS
has been approved. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor
negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities
such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous
waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could
also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some level of
noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these
impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed,
which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be
well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or
amenity effects.
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 391 September 2015
ELAS225 Beaconsfield Road
ELAS225 Beaconsfield Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS225 - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
Home Park, Hatfield Estate Local Wildlife Site is situated 250m to the east, although the urban area of Old
Hatfield separates this between the ELAS and the Local Wildlife Site. Therefore, the development of a waste
facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The
potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than
500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application stage
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 392 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS225 in the SPD: As the ELAS is located within Source Protection Zone 3, additional
mitigation measures may be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is adjacent to the Grade II listed Red Lion Public House and within 150m of the Grade II listed
entrance gates and statue that lead to the Grade I listed Hatfield House and its Grade I registered park and
garden. The ELAS is also within 200m of an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 100m of the Old
Hatfield Conservation Area. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could
therefore have a minor negative effect on this heritage asset. As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings
the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative impact on the setting of the listed buildings.
Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the precise location, design and facility proposed, as
well as on the characteristics and location of the listed buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS225 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The East Coast mainline runs along the western boundary. However, the ELAS is further than 3km from
an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a
minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is well placed for access to the public transport network, with some direct access to the main road network and is linked to ELAS226.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 393 September 2015
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area in Hatfield. There are currently no waste management
facilities operating on the ELAS. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an
employment area (EA4) in the adopted Welwyn Hatfield District Plan. Therefore the ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 1km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is well placed for access to the public transport network, with some direct access to the main road network and is linked to ELAS226.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 394 September 2015
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but is within 500m of many public rights of way, including the
Smallford Trail. The ELAS is also within 500m of Hatfield Park and Home Park to the east. Therefore the
ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and
access to the countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less
attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 580 households. The southeast of the site is within 250m of Hatfield
Social Club, and the western boundary of the ELAS is within 250m of the Countess Anne Church of England
Primary School and the Christ Church United Reformed Church, which are both located to the west of the
East Coast mainline railway. Prior notification applications for the change of use of two buildings within the
ELAS to residential have been received by the borough council. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility
could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores
and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from
waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 395 September 2015
Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all
development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and
potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its
design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application
stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented
should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 396 September 2015
ELAS226 Beaconsfield Road
ELAS226 Beaconsfield Road
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS226 - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + -- -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- -? - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ -- -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
Home Park, Hatfield Estate Local Wildlife Site is situated 250m to the east, although the East Coast mainline
railway and the urban area of Old Hatfield separate this between the ELAS and the Local Wildlife Site.
Therefore, the development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor negative affect
on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA
or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the planning application
stage.
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 397 September 2015
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS226 in the SPD: As the ELAS is located within Source Protection Zone 3, additional mitigation measures may be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is within 150m of the Grade II listed entrance gates and statue that lead to the Grade I listed
Hatfield House and its Grade I registered park and garden. The ELAS is also within 200m of an Area of
Archaeological Significance and within 100m of the Old Hatfield Conservation Area. The development of any
type of waste management facility on the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on this heritage asset.
As the ELAS is within 500m of listed buildings the effect is uncertain to recognise the potential negative
impact on the setting of the listed buildings. Impacts on the setting of the buildings will depend on the
precise location, design and facility proposed, as well as on the characteristics and location of the listed
buildings.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS226 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 398 September 2015
2a. The East Coast mainline runs along the western boundary. However, the ELAS is further than 3km from
an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of waste management facility could have a
minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is well placed for access to the public transport network, however given the nature of the current parking arrangements and the manoeuvrability for HGV any proposal would have to consider access arrangements within the Transport Assessment. This area is linked to ELAS225.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS225 & ELAS226 in the SPD:
Consider access arrangements within the Transport
Assessment
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area in Hatfield. There are currently no waste management
facilities operating on the ELAS. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is currently identified as an
employment area (EA4) in the adopted Welwyn Hatfield District Plan. Therefore the ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 1km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that the ELAS is well placed for access to the public transport network, however given the nature of the current parking arrangements and the manoeuvrability for HGV any proposal would have to consider access arrangements within the Transport Assessment. This area is
linked to ELAS225.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 399 September 2015
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS225 & ELAS226 in the SPD:
Consider access arrangements within the Transport
Assessment
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral has
already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 7 runs through the ELAS. The ELAS is
also within 500m of Hatfield Park and Home Park to the east of the site and the East Coast mainline railway.
Therefore the ELAS could have a significant negative effect on the protection and enhancement of
recreational facilities and access to the countryside, as development of the ELAS could mean removing
part of a facility (e.g. a public right of way), and make recreational facilities and public rights of way less
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 400 September 2015
attractive for users.
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 1,180 households. The western boundary of the site is within 150m of
the Countess Anne Church of England Primary School and the Christ Church United Reformed Church. The
southern boundary of the ELAS is within 250m of Onslow Saint Audrey’s School. The southeast corner of the
ELAS is also within 250m of a place of worship and a residential care home. Therefore, proposals for all
types of facility could have the potential to have a minor negative effect on health due to the potential
release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or
producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility could also have a significant negative effect on
amenity, because all development would result in some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during
construction and potentially during operation as well. However, these impacts are very dependent on the
type of facility, its design and potential mitigation measures proposed, which would be assessed at the
planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed that facilities will be well run and that mitigation
measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 401 September 2015
ELAS227 Sopers Road, Cuffley
ELAS227 Sopers Road, Cuffley
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5. Economic
benefits of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS227 --? 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed --? 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
--? 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air --? 0/0/- 0 -- ++ ++ -- +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national biodivesrity designations but
Cuffley Station Embankment Local Wildlife Site is located within 200m to the north. The ELAS is also
adjacent to an area of rough grassland and scrub to the east and wooded railway embankment to the west,
both of which are locally valuable ecologically. There is also a small drain leading into the Cuffley Brook to
the east. Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is assumed likely to have a minor
negative affect on biodiversity in general.
However, the ELAS is within 3km downwind of Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC and within 7km
downwind of Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar site. Therefore, if a thermal treatment facility were to be
developed on the ELAS, there would be potential for significant negative effects on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC and Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar site due to air pollution, but this is uncertain
as would need to be modelled based on specific facility proposals. In addition, due to its proximity to the
A10, should any waste facility be developed within this ELAS, there is potential for waste vehicles to travel
along the A10, which may give rise to increases in air pollution. The Habitats Regulations Assessment
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
The Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 402 September 2015
Report for the Waste Site Allocations DPD found that there was potential for in combination effects on
Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from air pollution arising from waste vehicle movements along the
A10 if more than four allocated sites within the eastern half of the County were to be developed at the
same time. Therefore, there is potential for a significant negative effect on Wormley Hoddesdonpark
Woods SAC due to air emissions from waste vehicles on the A10, but only if this ELAS were to be developed
for waste use at the same time as other ELASs in proximity to the A10 or the three Allocated Sites in the
eastern part of the County (AS019, AS025, AS238). The potential for effects on habitats and species not
designated as SAC, SPA or Ramsar and more than 500m from the site would need to be determined at the
planning application stage.
from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC and Lee Valley SPA/Ramsar
site if a thermal treatment facility proposal comes
forward on this ELAS, it is recommended that the
Waste Brief for ELAS227 in the SPD also includes a
requirement to include an air quality assessment of
the potential for air pollution from the thermal
treatment facility to affect the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC and Lee Valley
SPA/Ramsar site.
Due to the potential for air pollution impacts on Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC from waste transport travelling to and from this ELAS should any waste facility
be developed on this ELAS, it is recommended that
the Waste Brief for ELAS227 in the SPD also includes a requirement for transport assessments to include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC.
These recommendations have been included in the
ELAS SPD Adopted Version (November 2015).
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is not located
within a Source Protection Zone and is therefore not considered likely to affect the protection of
groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases)
could also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A normal risk based
approach will be applied with all waste related planning
applications on Employment Land Areas of Search that
are not located in a groundwater Source Protection Zone.
Waste Brief for ELAS227 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
not located within a groundwater Source Protection
Zone, no additional mitigation measures will be
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 403 September 2015
required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is not located within 1km of an AONB or within 500m of a designated heritage asset.
Therefore, development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS is considered to have no
effect on heritage assets.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are
within existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS227 in the SPD: The
Archaeological Desk Based Assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The mainline railway runs along the eastern boundary. However, the ELAS is more than 3km from an
existing rail depot and further than 3km from a primary route therefore development of the site for any
type of waste management facility could have a significant negative effect on reducing reliance on road
freight and increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that area is already in employment use and links with B156
Station Road. The Highway Authority has no fundamental objection for industrial type of employment
similar to those already on the site, all traffic to the site has to travel either through Cuffley or Goffs Oak
before reaching the primary route network.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 404 September 2015
where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
Waste Brief for ELAS227 in the SPD: The Transport
Assessment should include an assessment of the
potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect
the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC .
In addition, the Waste Site Allocations DPD states that waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in
the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley
Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
2b. The ELAS is an established employment area in Cuffley. There are currently no waste management
facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses and is Currently identified as an
employment area (EA9) in the adopted Welwyn Hatfield District Plan. Therefore the ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is further than 3km from a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this
site could have a significant negative effect on reducing emissions as the development of waste
management facilities on this site would increase the movement of freight by road, increasing greenhouse
gas emissions. ELAS which are more than 3km from a primary route would have to travel this additional
distance by road.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that area is already in employment use and links with B156
Station Road. The Highway Authority has no fundamental objection for industrial type of employment
similar to those already on the site, all traffic to the site has to travel either through Cuffley or Goffs Oak
before reaching the primary route network.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Opportunities for a rail connection should be explored where an ELAS adjoins a railway line.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 405 September 2015
Waste Brief for ELAS227 in the SPD: The Transport Assessment should include an assessment of the potential for air pollution from waste transport to affect the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC . In addition, the Waste Site Allocations DPD states that
waste proposals coming forward on the Allocated Sites in the eastern half of the county will be monitored to ensure that air pollution effects from waste transported to and
from, the Allocated Sites along the A10 do not combine to have a significant effect on the Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods SAC (para’s 1.19-1.20).
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals, as the mineral
has already been sterilised.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 406 September 2015
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 24 runs near to the eastern boundary.
Therefore the ELAS could have a minor negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational
facilities and access to the countryside by making this public right of way less attractive for users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The ELAS is within 250m of over 320 households. The northwest corner of the ELAS is within 250m of
a Library and the southwest corner of the ELAS is within 250m of a school, both of which are to the west of
the mainline railway. Cuffley Youth & Community Centre is situated approximately 100m to the northwest.
A prior notification application for the change of use of Everest House to residential within the ELAS has
also been approved. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a minor
negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain facilities
such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of hazardous
waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste facility
could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in some
level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well.
However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation
measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed
that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any
potential health or amenity effects.
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into
account the proximity of other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 407 September 2015
ELAS236 Woolmer Green Employment Area (north and south)
ELAS236 Woolmer Green Employment Area (north and south)
Site SEA Obj. 1. Natural &
Historic Environment
SEA Obj. 2.
Land
use/design
SEA Obj.
3.
Climate
Change
SEA Obj. 4. Sustainable
Resource Management
SEA Obj. 5.
Economic benefits
of waste
SEA Obj. 6. Health
and Amenity
SEA Obj.
7.
Participa
tion
1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b 4a 4b 4c 4d 4e 5a 5b 5c 5d 6a 6b 6c 6d 7a 7b
ELAS236 - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed - 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Enclosed
Thermal
- 0/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? + - -?/--?
Open Air - -/0/- - - ++ ++ - +/-? 0 +? ++ - -?/--?
Justification for scores
Please note that the decision making criteria highlighted in grey (1d, 1e, 2c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7a,
and 7b) have no scores recorded for the reasons set out in the SEA Framework and Assumptions.
Is mitigation provided in other DPDs or relevant
ELAS Waste Brief?
1a. The ELAS is more than 500m from the nearest international and national conservation designations but
is within 500m of a local biodiversity designation. Therefore development of a waste facility on this ELAS is
assumed likely to have a minor negative affect on biodiversity in general. The potential for effects on
habitats and species not designated as an SAC, SPA or Ramsar site and more than 500m from the site would
need to be determined at the planning application stage
Core Strategy Policies 17, 18, 19 aim to ensure that
impacts on designated sites and BAP habitats are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
(where this is appropriate) before proposals for waste
management facilities are permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Appropriate measures should be incorporated to ensure that proposals on employment land do not adversely affect adjacent wildlife sites, or European sites within 10km.
1b. Mixed effects are expected on this objective as it relates to avoiding adverse effects on water, geology
and air quality, which can be affected by waste development in different ways. The ELAS is located within
Source Protection Zone 3. Therefore, facilities for open-air processes for waste management could have a
Core Strategy Policies 16, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on the water environment and air quality
are avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 408 September 2015
minor negative effect on the protection of groundwater sources.
The ELAS is more than 1km from a RIGGS so would have no effect on these features.
All facilities are considered likely to have a minor negative effect on air pollution as a result of HGV and
other facility-related transport during construction and operation of facilities. Some open air waste
management processes could also result in increased air pollution (for example dust from aggregate
recycling facilities), while emissions from enclosed thermal treatment processes (which release gases) could
also have a minor negative effect on air pollution.
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A detailed design for the
management of surface water and proposals to install an
impermeable sealed drainage scheme would be required
for ELAS located in Source Protection Zone 3.
Waste Brief for ELAS236 in the SPD: As the ELAS is
located within Source Protection Zone 3, additional mitigation measures may be required to prevent contamination to groundwater.
1c. The ELAS is adjacent to an Area of Archaeological Significance and within 250m of another Area of
Archaeological Significance. The development of any type of waste management facility on the ELAS could
have a minor negative effect on this heritage asset.
The extent to which waste development within ELAS could have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character is uncertain. This depends to a large extent on the type of facility proposed, and its
design and scale, which will only be known at the planning application stage. In addition, all ELAS are within
existing industrial estates, and may therefore be less likely to have a negative effect on landscape or
townscape character as they will be within existing built-up areas.
Core Strategy Policies 12, 17, 18 & 19 aim to ensure
that impacts on landscape, heritage and greenspaces are
avoided, minimised or adequately compensated for
before proposals for waste management facilities are
permitted.
General ELAS Waste Brief: A desk based
archaeological impact assessment would be required to
confirm any archaeological remains on the ELAS that has
been identified as having archaeological significance. This
should also assess both past impacts upon the site and
previous archaeological investigations of the area and to
model the current archaeological potential of the site.
Waste Brief for ELAS236 in the SPD: The
archaeological desk-based assessment should also
consider the potential for as yet unknown heritage
assets.
Depending upon the type and scale of facility
proposed, a detailed assessment of the potential for
impacts on any identified heritage assets may be
required at the planning application stage.
2a. The ELAS is further than 3km from an existing rail depot so development of the site for any type of
waste management facility could have a minor negative effect on reducing reliance on road freight and
increasing the efficient use of rail.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that this site has direct access to the B197; however traffic would have to pass through the residential settlements of Knebworth or Woolmer Green. Any intensification
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 409 September 2015
in the number of HGV movements should be resisted.
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
For any new access or significant alteration to an
existing access, a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit must be
carried out.
Waste Brief for ELAS236 in the SPD: Any
intensification in the number of HGV movements
should be resisted.
2b. The ELAS is a non-designated established employment area in Woolmer Green, Cuffley. There are
currently no waste management facilities operating within the site. The ELAS contains B1 and B2 uses.
Therefore the ELAS could have a significant positive effect on the efficient use of land.
Not needed.
3a. While it is not possible for the undeveloped site to have an impact on reducing energy demand, the
development of energy from waste facilities on any of the ELAS would have a significant positive effect on
increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in Hertfordshire.
Not needed.
3b. The ELAS is within 3km of a primary route. It is considered likely that the development of this site will
increase transportation by road to some extent, and would therefore increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A minor negative effect is likely.
The development brief for this ELAS specifies that this site has direct access to the B197; however traffic would have to pass through the residential settlements of Knebworth or Woolmer Green. Any intensification
in the number of HGV movements should be resisted.
Core Strategy Policies 1, 9, and 10 aim to minimise
transport distances and encourage the use of sustainable
transport for waste management.
General ELAS Waste Brief: All planning applications
should be supported by a Transport Assessment, as set
out in the Department for Communities and Local
Government/Department for Transport document:
‘Guidance on Transport Assessment, March 2007’.
Waste Brief for ELAS236 in the SPD: Any intensification in the number of HGV movements should be resisted.
4c. The ELAS is comprised of non-agricultural land (less than 1% agricultural land) and therefore has the
potential to indirectly achieve the safeguarding of soil quality and minimising the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural land as the development of new waste management facilities in their location could
reduce the need for landfill and associated landtake on greenfield land. Therefore, the development of the
site for any type of waste management facility is considered likely to have a minor positive effect on
safeguarding soil quality and minimising the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
Core Strategy Policies 16 18 & 19 aim to safeguard
the best and most versatile agricultural land.
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 410 September 2015
All ELAS include potential for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities therefore there may be
potential for contamination from hazardous waste, though this is considered unlikely as facilities would be
enclosed and subject to strict procedural and legislative requirements to ensure the safe treatment of
hazardous waste. An uncertain minor negative effect will therefore be identified.
4d. The ELAS is located outside the Minerals Safeguarding Area and on previously developed land and
therefore considered likely to have no effect on safeguarding reserves of these minerals.
Not needed.
4e. All facility types except landfill (which is not permitted within the ELAS) could have a minor positive
effect by ensuring waste management occurs using processes higher up the waste hierarchy. However,
the extent of this effect is uncertain as it will depend on the actual type of facility that gets proposed at the
planning application stage (and its place in the waste hierarchy).
The Core Strategy overall aim is to ensure that landfill
is a ‘last resort’ when developing waste management
facilities, and to encourage management of waste higher
up the waste hierarchy. No landfill facilities would be
developed within ELAS.
5a. The development of recycling facilities and in-vessel composting facilities on any ELAS could have a
significant positive effect on providing a source of raw materials and some level of employment. All types
of waste management facilities, including enclosed thermal, could have an indirect positive effect on
increasing employment levels when developed during construction and operation.
Not needed.
6a. The ELAS is outside the Green Belt but public footpath number 2 partly runs along the southern
boundary of the south area of the ELAS and is within 250m of the north area of the ELAS. Both areas are
within 500m of Woolmer Green Hall and the associated playing field. Therefore the ELAS could have a minor
negative effect on the protection and enhancement of recreational facilities and access to the
countryside by making these recreational facilities, open space and public rights of way less attractive for
users.
Core Strategy Policy 6 aims to protect the Green Belt,
and Policies 12 and 18 aim to protect greenfield land and
recreational assets.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Waste management
proposals should also take into account the proximity of
other uses that may surround any of the ELAS (e.g.
residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
Consideration should be given to appropriate screening
for proposed potential waste facilities that are adjacent
to public rights of way.
6b. The north area of the ELAS is within 250m of over 120 households and the south area of the ELAS is
within 250m of over 300 households. Both areas are also within 250m of two nursing homes, including
Monread Lodge Nursing Home. Therefore, proposals for all types of facility could have the potential to have a
minor negative effect on health due to the potential release of biospores and air emissions from certain
facilities such as composting, anaerobic digestion or producing energy from waste, and/or handling of
hazardous waste as in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment facilities. Proposals for all types of waste
facility could also have a significant negative effect on amenity, because all development would result in
Core Strategy Policies 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 in
the Core Strategy and Development Policies DPD aim to
protect the health and amenity of local residents.
General ELAS Waste Brief: Most waste uses can be
housed in a building which would sit comfortably within
an employment land area. Where practicable, potential
SEA of the Hertfordshire WLP ELAS SPD 411 September 2015
some level of noise, traffic, and light pollution during construction and potentially during operation as well.
However, these impacts are very dependent on the type of facility, its design and potential mitigation
measures proposed, which would be assessed at the planning application stage. In addition, it is assumed
that facilities will be well run and that mitigation measures implemented should be sufficient to avoid any
potential health or amenity effects.
waste facilities should be enclosed in a building to
ensure that surrounding uses are not adversely affected
by noise, dust and odour generation.
Consideration should be given to the location of sensitive
receptors. Appropriate measures should be incorporated
to ensure that proposals on employment land do not
adversely affect sensitive receptors. Further detailed
assessment could be required. Waste management
development should therefore be compatible with
adjacent uses on the employment land.
Waste management proposals should also take into account the proximity of other uses that may surround
any of the ELAS (e.g. residential, playing fields, leisure centres etc).
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